REGULATIONS 


or   THK 


Cibrarn  of  tjje  Jfekraktreet  SWeig 


IN    BOSTON. 


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OOK    \Y 

No. 


^  I 


.     \ 


Dr.  Chauncfs 
E  MARK'S 


On  certain  Passages  in 

The  Bifhop  of  Landaff's 

SOCIETY-SERMON, 


L  E  T  T  E 

To  a  FRIEND, 

Containing, 

Remarks  on  certain  Passages  in  a 

SERMON 

Preached,  by  the  Right  Reverend  Father 
in  GOD,  John  Lord  BiJJj.op  of  Landaff] 
before  the  Incorporated  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gofpel  in  Foreign 
Parts,  at  their  Anniversary  Meeting  in  the 
Parifh  Church  of  St.  Mary-Le-Bow,  Ft- 
Iprnary  20.  1767.  In  which  the  higheft 
.Reproach  is  undefervedly  caft  upon  the 
American  Colonies. 

By  Charles  Chauncy,  D.  D0 

Paftor  of  the  firft  Church  of  Chrift  in  Bofton, 


s  > 


BOSTON:    Printed  by  KNEBLAND  and  ADAM^ 

in  Milk-Street,  for  Thomas Leverett,  in Corn-h:i!« 
RIdcclxvii. 


4hh  'ffert 


■      I        «     ■    I     ■    I  '  ■  >    HI'-    ■      ■  '  '  '•"  ■" !■  m 


1 


S  I  R, 


■^HIS  waits  upon  you  with  my  thanks  for 
fending  me  the  Lord  Bifhop  of  Landaff's 
fermon,  preached  lad  February  before  the 
Society  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gofpel  in 
foreign  parts  ;  though  I  am  forry  it  was  accom- 
panied with  your  defire,  after  I  had  carefully  read 
it,  to  give  you  my  thoughts  concerning  thofe  paf- 
fagesin  it  which  relate  to  the  American  Colonies. 
You  could  not  have  felected  a  perfon  better  Me- 
ted to  anfvver  your  defign,  fo  far  as  a  warm 
affection  for  this  as  well  as  the  Mother-Country, 
and  a  frrono;  attachment  to  the  intereft  and  honor 
of  both,  may  be  efteemed  requifite  qualifications  i 
but  you  might,  in  regard  of  leifure  and  abilities, 
with  much  more  propriety,  have  enjoined  this 
fervice  on  fome  others  of  your  acquaintance  : 
However,  my  obligations  to  you  are  fuch,  that 
I  could  notexcufe  my  felf  from  attempting  that, 
which,  I  join  with  you  in  thinking,  juftice  to  the 
Colonies  requires  fhould  be  done  upon  this  oc- 

Had 


(    6    ) 

Had  the  character  you  mention,  as  given  the 
Britifh  Colonies,  been  contained  in  a  difcourfe 
delivered  by  a  common  Clergy-man,  before  a 
common  audience,  it  would,  I  believe,  have  given 
you  no  uneafinefs  ;  as  you  would  not  have  been 
apprehend ve  of  any  harm  from  it  :  But,  as  it  is 
exhibited  in  a  fermon,  preached  before  the  incor- 
porated Society  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gofpel 
in  foreign  parts,  many  of  whom  are  high  in  rank, 
and  fuftain  the  greateft  character,  no  wonder 
your  concern  was  moved  ;  efpecially,  as  this 
refpeclable  body  of  men  have  virtually  made 
themfelves  patrons  of  the  fermon.  So  we  are 
authorifed  to  think  from  their  voting  the  preacher 
thanks  for  it,  and  defiring  hirn  to  deliver  to  them 
a  copy  of  it  for  the  prefs  ;  unlefs  it  may  be  faid, 
this  was  only  a  matter  of  form  and  ceremony  ; 
to  fuppofe  which  would  reflect  dishonor  on  its 
dignified  author.  We,  in  this  part  of  the  world, 
mud  be  fhamefully  impious  and  immoral,  to 
deferve  what  is  here  faid  of  us  •,  or,  if  we  do 
not,  very  unhappy  to  be  publickly  placed  in  (o 
injurious  a  point  of  light.  Whether  we  are  the 
one,  or  the  other,  I  mail  now  examine. 

His  Lcrdfhip  fays,  Pag.  6.  "  Since  the  dif- 
covery  of  the  new  world,  the  fame  provifion 
hath  not  been  made  of  minifters,  necefiary  to  the 
fupport  ofChriftianicy  among  thofc  who  removed 
thither  ;  efpecially  in  the  Britifh  Colonies".    If 


(    7    )     ' 

the  complaint  here  made,  fo  far  as  the  Colonics 
without  difcri  mi  nation  are  concerned  in  it,  lies  iri 
this,  that  they  have  not  provided  themfelves  with 
minifters  epifcopally  ordained,  they  readily  owri 
the  fact.     But,    furely,   his  Lordfhip  does  not 
think,  that  fuch  minifters  are  fo  necejfary  that 
Chriftianity  cannot  be  fupported  without  them. 
This    doctrine   was  taught,    and  believed,    in 
Former  times,  when  bigotry  and  opprefTion  were 
the  characteriftic  of  fome  that    were  placed  in 
high  offices  both    in  church  and   (late  ;  but,  in 
the  prefent  day  of  enlarged  knowledge  and  free- 
dom of  inquiry,  it  is  hoped  there  is  no  Arch- 
Bifhop,  or  Bilhop  in  England,  of  fuch  contracted 
principles.     Certainly,  his  Lordfhip  is  more  ca- 
tholic in   his  fentiments  :  Otherwife  He  might 
have  been  more  extenfive  in  his  complaint,by  tak- 
ing in  Scotland,Holland,and  many  of  the  reform- 
ed proteftant  churches  in  Europe  ;  for  they,   as 
truly  as  the  Britifh  Colonies  in  America,  are  not 
provided  with  minifters  "neceflfary  to  the  fupporc 
of  Chriftianity"  among  them,  if  Epifccpal  ones 
only  are  fufficient  for  the  purpofe.     It  is  therefore 
probable,  the  meaning  of  the  charge  againft  the 
Colonies  is,  that  they   had  provided  themfelves 
with  no  minifters  at  all,  or  had  been  fo  fcanty  in 
their  provifion,    that   Chriftianity,  on  this  ac- 
count, muft  fink  and  die,  having  no  better  a  fup- 
port.    .But  this,  affirmed  of  the  Colonies  with- 
out diftincYipn,  or  limitation,  is  fo  contrary  to  the 

truth;' 


(     8     ) 

truth  of  fact,  and  might  have  fo  eafily  been 
known  to  be  fo,  that  I  cannot  but  wonder  at  his 
Lordfhip's  charge.  It  can,  with  honor  to  him, 
be  in  no  way  accounted  for  but  by  fuppofmg, 
that  he  was  fome  how  or  other  ftrangely  mifin- 
formed.  BiefTed  be  God,  we  in  New-England, 
now  have,  and  all  along  from  the  fir  ft  fettkment 
of  the  Country  have  had,  a  full  provifion  of 
Gofpel-minifters.  *  Had  they  been  confecrated 
after  the  mode  of  the  eftablifhtd  Church  at 
home,  and  his  Lordfhip  had  known  their  num- 
ber and  jull  character,  he  would,  I  doubt  nor, 
have  reverfed  what  he  has  here  faid,  and  have 
fpoken   largely   in   commendation   of,  at  kaftj 

theft  parts  of  the  American  world. 

The 

*  Within    the    limits   of  New-Ensrta.nd,    there   are 

O  J 

now,  at  the  Ioweft  computation,  not  lefs  thao  five 
hundred  and  fifty  miniilers,  fome  Pitfbvterian, 
moft'y  Congregational,  who  have  been  regularly 
ft  para  ted  to  the  paftoral  charge  of  as  many  chri- 
itian  focieties  ;  having  been  firft  educated,  and 
graduated,  at  one  or  other  of  our  colleges.  ^They 
may  be  juftiy  farther  characlerifed  as  men  of  a 
good  moral  conversation.  For  fo  facred  a  regard 
is  paid  here  to  the  apoftle  Paul's  directions  to 
Timothy  andTius,  that  a  rniniftcr  is  fure'y  difmifTed 
from  his  office,  if  it  appears,  that  he  is  not  *«  biame- 
lefs  as  a  fteward  of  God,  fobcr,  holy,  Jaft  and  tem- 
perate in  all  things."  Jt  has  been  faid  by  ftrsngers 
who  have  ccme  among  us,  and  by  fome  Church- 
Clergymen  too,  that  the  woilc  of  the  miniftry  i3 
not  more  faithfully  and  diligently  performed  in  any 
part  of  the  chriftian  world. 


(     9     ) 

T*he  fermon  goes  on,  pag.  ibid.  "  A  fcanda- 
lous  neglect,  (this  of  not  making  a'provifiori  of 
minifters)  which  hath  brought  great  and  deferv- 
ed  reproach  both  on  the  adventurers^  and  on  the 
goverment  whence  they  went  ;  and  under  whofe 
protection  and  power  they  ftill  remained  in  their 
new  habitations".  How  Far  the  government  at 
home  have  brought  upon  themfelves  "  deferved 
reproach"  for  this  "  fcandalous  neglect'*,  I  pre*' 
fume  not  to  fay  ;  but  this  I  will  venture  to  fay* 
that  they  were  as  deficient  in  u  protecting"  thd 
adventurers*  as  in  u  providing  minifters"  for 
them.  It  is  well  known  here,  if  not  in  England* 
that  it  was  from  themfelves,  without  any  aiTift> 
ance  from  the  government  whence  they  came*' 
that  they  founded  and  fettled  th's  new  world* 
amidft  a  thoufand  hardfhips,  and  in  bppofitioit 
to  the  furious  malice  of  the  Indian  favages,  with 
whom  they  were  at  war,  at  one  time  and  ano- 
ther, at  a  vaft  expence  of  blood  and  treafure,  aii 
long  as  they  lived  j  and  their  pofterity  after 
them  were  many  years  expofed  to  like  difficulties 
and  dangers,  and  went  chcarfully  through  therri 
•without  help  afforded  to  them  from  the  nativ$ 
home  of  their  fathers* 

His  Lord  (hip  proceeds*  {teg.  ibid.  "  1*0  trig 
lc  adventurers,  what  reproach  could  be  caft,  hea* 
^  vier  than  they  deferved  ?  Who,  with  their 
£  native  foil,  abandoned  their  native  manners  and 

B  **  religion  > 


a 


(     io    ) 

"  religion  ;  and  e*er  long  were  found  in  many 
parts  living  without  remembrance  or  knowledge 
4C  of  G;-d,  without  any  Divine  worfhip,  in  diflblute 
€i  wickednefs,  and  the  mod  brutal  profligacy  of 
"  manners.     Inftead  of  civilifing  and  converting 
"  barbarous  infidels,  as  they   undertook  to  do, 
"  they  became  themfelves  infidels  and   barbari- 
*'  ans.     And  is  it  not  fome  aggravation  of  their 
"  mam*-,  that  this  their  neglect  of  religion  was 
"  contrary  to  the  pretences  and  conditions  under 
"  which  they  obtained  Royal  grants,  and  public 
"  authority  to  their  adventures  ?  The  pretences 
"  and  conditions  were,  that  their  defign  was,  and 
u  that  they  fhould  endeavour,  the  enlargement 
"  of  Commerce,  and  the  propagation  of  chrifti- 
**  an   faith.     The   former  they  executed   with 
u  fincerity  and  Zeal  ;  and  in  the  latter  moft  no- 
"  torioufly  failed".     A  ftranger  to  the   hiftory 
of  thefe  adventurers  would   be  obvioufty   and 
unavoidably   led,  from   the  defcription   in   this 
paragraph,   to  conceive  of    them,  6C  in   many 
parts"  st  lead,  as  impious,  profligate  and  diiTo- 
lately  wicked  to  the  higheft  degree  of  guilt.     A 
blacker  character  could  not  have  been  given  of 
them. 

But,  in  "  what  parts"  were  the  adventurers 
thus  loft  to  all  fenfe  of  God  and   religion  ?  His 
Lordmip  has  not  told  us  in  direct  terms  •,  but 
he  has  fo  clearly  and  fully  pointed  out  the  ad- 
venturers 


(  II  ) 

venturers  he  had  in  view,  by  certain  defcriptive 
marks,  that  we  can  be  at  no  lofs  to  know  his 
jneaning  in  the  limiting  words,  "many  parts" 
Such  are  thefe  that  follow,  "  their  not  civilifing 
and  converting  the  barbarous  infidels,  as  they 
undertook  to  do"  ',  their  neglect  of  this  in- 
ftance  of  religion  "  in  contrariety  to  the  preten- 
ces and  conditions  under  which  they  obtained 
Royal  grants"  ;  and,  finally,  thefe  pretences 
and  conditions  declaring,  that  "  their  design 
was,  and    that  they  would    endeavour, 

THE      PROPAGATION      OF       THE       CHRISTIAN 

faith".  There  were  no  adventurers  to  Ame- 
rica, who  undercook  to  convert  the  native  barba- 
rians, and  to  whom  Royal  grants  were  made 
upon  this  condition,  unlefs  it  were  thole  who 
came  into  New-England.  Thefe  therefore  mult 
be  the  adventurers  his  Lordfhip  had  more  efpe- 
dally  in  his  eye. 

And  of  thefe  he  declares,  "  that,  with  their  na^ 
tive  foil,  they  abandoned  their  native  manners  and 
religion".  His  Lord (hip  could  not  affirm  this 
from  perfonal  knowledge,  as  thefe  adventurers 
were  all  dead  long  before  he  came  into  being. 
And  it  is  difficult  to  fay  whence  he  could  coiled; 
fo  aftonilhing  an  account.  It  is  not  contained 
in  any  hiftory  that  was  ever  wrote,  eirher  of 
them,  or  of  the  fettlement  of  the  Country  by 
them.  No  Ivliffionary  from  the  Society,  ft  is 
■  .Candidly  believed,  -could  be  fo  bafely  wicked^  uz 

$  3  W 


t       12       ) 

to  tranfmit  it  home,  it  is  fo  flanderous  and  falfe  % 
JsTor  can  it  eafily  be  conceived  how  his  Lord- 
fhip  could  come  by  it,  unlefs  from  fome  one,  or 
more,  who,  being  difafrecled  to  the  Colonies, 
and  malicioufly  jet  againft  them,  took  an  un- 
bounded liberty  in  fpeaking  evil  of  them,  even 
from  their  fir  it  beginnings.  Thefe  adventurers 
have  fometimes  been  blamed  for  having  too  muck 
religion  *,  but  never  before,wkhin  my  knowledge, 
for  having  none,  or  for  having  loft  what  they 
had  in  their  **  native"  land. 

It  is  acknowledged,if  their  "native  religion'1  lay 
in  a  blind  fubmiflicn  toChurch-power,  arbitrarily? 
rxercifed,  they  did  *•  abandon"  it  ;  and  their 
virtue  hereby  difcovered  will  be  fpoken  of  to 
their  honor,  throughout  all  generations,  by  thofo 
acquainted  with  if,  who  really  believe,  in  its  juft 
latitude,  this  undoubted  Gofpel-truth,  namely., 
that  Jefus  Chritt  only  is  fujreme  Head  and  Lord 
of  the  chriilian  Church. 

But  if  by  tf  abandoning  their  native  religion*** 
is  meant,  their  renouncing  the  acclrines  ofiChri* 
fiianity  as  held  forth  in  the  thirty  nine  articles  of 
the  Church  of  England,  the  reverie  of  what  is 
here  raid  is  the  froth.  Thefe  indeed  are  the 
(tfoclriries  that  were  handed  down  from  them  to 
r  children  and  childrenJs  children  ;  infomuch 
\  r  they  are  to  this  day  the  i-andard  of  ortho- 
d*  -:y  \  and  there  are  comparatively  few  but  arc 

orthodox 


4 


(    »3    ) 

orthodox  in  this  fenfe,  unlefs  among  thofe  who 
profefs  themfelves  members  of  the  Epifcopal 
Churches.  Or  if  by  "  abandoning  their  native 
religion"  the  thing  intended  is,  **  that  e'er  long 
they  were  found  without  remembrance,  or  know-* 
ledge  of  God,  or  any  divine  worfhip",  as  the 
charge  againft  them  goes  on  in  the  next  words  -, 
it  mud  be  plainly  faid,  it  is  altogether  ground- 
lefs.  There  is  no  fact  relative  to  the  Country 
niore  certain,  than  that  thefe  adventurers  fo 
far  '*  remembred  and  knew  God",  as  to  make 
it  one  of  their  firft  cares  to  provide  for  the 
carrying  on,  maintaining  and  upholding  the 
worfhip  of  him,  which  they  did  wherever  they 
extended  their  fettlements  °,  and  their  pofterity 
have  conftantly  took  the  like  care  all  along  to 
the  prefent  day.  There  is  therefore  no  fenfe  in 
which  the  above  reprefentation  can  comport  with 
truth  but  this,  that  God  cannot  be  worfhipped, 
at  leaft  fo  as  that  it  may  be  proper  to  fay  he  is, 
unlefs  the  worfhip  be  carried  on  according  to  the 
manner  of  the  eftablifhed  Englifh  Church.  Some 
of  the  Society  s  Miffionaries,  I  have  reafon  to 
believe,  are  much  inclined  to  think  thus  •,  but  I 
would  not  fupect  fuch  a  thing  of  his  Lordfhip, 

What  he  has  here  faid  I  would  rather  attribute 

» 

to  mifinformation. 

It  feems  to  be  allowed,  that  thefe  adventurers 
jiad  "  native  manners •'  ;  otherwife  they  coulci 
pot,  upon  leaving  theij  "  wiye  foil^  J1  abandon 


(  *4  ) 

them".  But,  they  mud  have  abandoned  them 
to  an  enormous  height  of  guilt,  to  juftifie  their 
being  charged  "  with  diflblute  wickednefs,  and 
the  moil  brutal  profligacy  of  mann  rs'\  Thefe 
words  are  fo  groily  reproachful,  that  I  could 
fcarce  believe  my  own  eyes,  when  I  faw  them 
in  his  Lordfhip's  fermon.  He  mud  certainly, 
however  infenfible  of  it,  have  correfponded,  by 
word,  or  writing,  with  fome  vile  Calumniator. 

It  would  be  injuftice  to  the  firft  fathers  of 
New-England,  if  I  did  not  fay  upon  this  pccafion, 
that  fome  of  them, were  exceeded  by  few,  in 
point  of  natural,  or  acquired  accomplifhments  ; 
and  by  far  the  greater  part  of  them  were  emi- 
nently holy  men  •,  pious  toward  God,  jealous  of 
the  honor  of  Chrift  as  fole  head  of  the  Church, 
fober,  juft,  kind,  meek,  patient,  difengaged  in 
their  afrecYion  to  things  on  the  earth,  and  intirely 
refigned  to  the  alwifc  righteous  Governor  of  the 
univerfe.  And  of  this  they  exhibited  the  (Irong- 
eft  evidence  by  their  truly  chriftian  deportment 
under  far  greater  tryals  than  good  men  are  ordi- 
narily called  to.  They  forfook  every  thing  near 
and  dear  to  them  in  their  native  land,  from  a 
regar'd  to  him  who  is  "  King  in  Sion".  And 
when  they  removed  tothe'then  American  wilds, 
and  found  themfelves  feparated  from  their  friends 
by  a  wide  Ocean,  without  the  conveniences,  and 
often  in  want  even  of  the  necelTaries  of  life,  fur- 
jpunded  with  difficulties,  and  ex^ofed    to  all 

fliannei 


C     U     ) 

ftiantfef  of  hardfhips  and  dangers,  what  could 
tempt  them  to  continue  here,  if  they  had  been 
thofe  "  infidels,  barbarians,  diffolutely  wicked 
and  brutal  profligates",  they  are  reprefented 
by  his  Lordfhip  to  have  been  ?  What,  in  this 
cafe,  could  have  prevented  their  return  to  their 
friends,  and  the  comforts  of  their  native  home  ? 
As  they  are  fuppofed  to  have  loft  all  confcience 
towards  God,  if  they  ever  had  any,  Church 
impofitions  could  have  been  no  obftacle  in 
their  way.  They  might,  in  fhort,  with  infi- 
nitely more  reafon,  have  been  fpoken  of  as 
fools,  or  mad-men,  than  irreligious  profligates* 
It  may,  1  believe*  be  faid  with  ftrict  truth, 
there  are  none,  now  in  England,  of  any  deno- 
mination, in  high  or  low  ohice,  or  none  at  all* 
who  are  under  circumftances  that  put  it  in 
their  power  to  give  fuch  indubitable  proof  of 
their  being  truly  upright  good  men.  And  I 
wifh  they  may  never  fee  the  time  when  they 
will  have  opportunity,  by  fimilar  tryals,  to 
give  as  good  evidence  of  their  integrity.  The 
MiiTionaries  from  the  Society  at  home  may  be 
efteemed  there  men  of  uncommon  attainments 
inChrUtian  piety,  difcovered  in  their  zeal  to  pro- 
mote the  caufe  of  Chtift  ;  but  they  never  yet 
exhibited,  and,  in  all  probability,  will  never  be 
able  to  exhibit,  like  ample  proof  that  this  is 
their  real  character.  No  MiiTionary  was  ever 
fent  hither,  till  the  Country,  through  a  vafb 
extent,  was  fubdu^d,  cultivated  and  fettled,  lb 

aa 


i  16  ) 

as  to  render  living  here  comfortable  and  plea* 
fant.  And  as  they  are  moftly  fixed  in  popu- 
lous towns,  in  which  they  may  eafily  be  fur* 
nifhed  with  conveniences,  and  are  expofed  to 
no  hardfhips  or  hazards  but  what  are  common 
to  mankind  in  general  j  they  can  have  oppor- 
tunity to  give  no  other  than  common  evidence 
of  the  goodnefs  of  their  character  ;  and  while 
they  give  this,  we  will  own  ourfelves  fatisfied 
with  it,  though  others  mould  not  be  fatisfied 
with  that  which  is  much  ftronger,  in  regard 
of  much  more  important  mem 

I  mall  only  add  here*  The  adventurers  to 
this  then  inhofpitable  land,  mull  have  the 
honor  of  being  owned  the  original  fettlers  of  a 
Country,  which,  in  time,  if  not  prevented  by 
oppreffive  meafures*  will  probably  enlarge  the 
Bntifh  Empire  in  extent,  grandeur,  riches  and 
power,  far  beyond  what  has  ever  yet  been 
known  in  the  world*  It  is  pity,  after  fuch  a 
long  courfe  of  labors,  hardfhips,  dangers  and 
fufferings,  as  they  heroicly  went  through,  to 
prepare  the  way  to  what  the  Country  now  is* 
and  may  be  in  after  times  •,  I  fay,  it  is  pity 
their  afhes  mould  be  raked  into,  and  their 
memory  treated  with  reproach,  greater  than 
which  was  never  deferved  by  any  of  the  fons 
of  Adam,  in  any  part  of  the  earth.  They 
are  gone  to  receive  the  reward  of  their  fidelity 
to  their  Savior  and  Lord  -,  and  their  reward,  \$ 

rriay 


p  .  ; 

may  be,  will  be  inhanced  by  means  of  the  uri~ 
dderved  obloquies  that  have  been  caft  upon 
them  in  this  fermori. 

tt  As  to  the  charge,  in  the  next  words,  that; 
"  inftead  of  civiliiing  and  converting  barba- 
rous infidels,  as  they  undertook  to  do,  they 
became  themfelves  infidels  and  barbarians"  j 
and  that  it  was  "  fome  aggravation  of  their 
Ihame,  that  this  their  neglect  of  religion  was, 
contrary  to  the  pretences  and  conditions,  under 
which  they  obtained  Royal  grants,  and  public 
authority  to  their  adventures'*  :  As  to  this 
charge,  I  fay,  it  would,  I  believe*  if  fattened 
upon  any  other  body  of  men,  profefiing  god.li- 
nefs,  be  efteemed  highly  unchriftian.  Had  a 
hint  only  of  this  nature  been  fuggefted,  rela- 
tive to  the  Society  in  whole  audience  this 
cenfure  was  delivered,  this,  and  much  worfe, 
would  have  been  faid  of  it,  and  defervedly  too. 
And  yet,  that  Society  have,  without  all  doubts 
been  as  deficient  in  their  endeavours  to  pro- 
pagate the  Gofpel  in  thefe  "  foreign  parts",, 
where  it  was  moft  needed,  and  in  contrary  ty 
to  the  defign  of  their  incorporation  too,  as  was 
ever  true  of  thefe  adventurers,  *     For3  by  far 

C  the 

*  •.-.-■•  f      ■■       ■ 

*  What  Has  been  done  by  thefe  adventurers  may  be 
feen  in  the  general  account  that  is  given  of  their, 
labors  in  fome  following  notes.  And  if  the  fads, 
there  related  fhould  be  fet  in  contraft  with  the 
kbfirac~ts  of  the  Society,  relative  to  the  Indians,  it 


(     i8     ) 

the  greater  part  of  their  money  has  been  ex- 
pended, if  we  may  judge  by  their  own  ab- 
flra&s,  not  in  millions  to  convert  the  Indian- 
natives,  not  in  millions  to  fet  up  and  maintain 

the 

will  appear  at  once,  that,  from  the  time  of  their 
incorporation  to  this  day,  they   have  done  Jittlej 
very  little,  in  comparison  therewith.     Their  prin- 
cipal care   has    been  to   propagate   the  church   of 
England  -,  and  this,  not  To  much  in   thofe  places, 
where  there  was  real  need    of  Miflionaries   for  the 
inftru&ion  of  people  in  the  knowledge  of  Chrift, 
or  to  fet  up  the  worfhip  of  God  among   them,  as 
where  there  was   a  fullnefs  of  means  for  fuch   in- 
duction,  and  divine  worfhip  was   already    fft  up, 
and  as  generally  and  devoutly  attended  as  in  Eng- 
land  it  felf.     Many  thousands  of  pounds    flerling 
have  been  thus  expended,  where  there  was  no  want 
of  it  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gofpel,  unlefs  that 
means  the  propagation   of  the   Epifcopal   mode  of 
ferving  God.     And   what  has  been   the  effect,  of 
this  vaft  expense  ?  If  we  look  over  the  Society's 
abftfactsj  we   (hall  find  one  account   from   their 
Millionaires  is,  "  We  have  baptifed  fo  many  with- 
in inch  a  time  ;  fo  many  adult,  and  fo  many  chil- 
dren, white  or  black"  :  Every  one  of  which  might 
as   weJi   have  been   baptifed  without  a  fhiiiing  of 
this  exper.ee,  if  it  might  have  been  done  by   mini- 
sters not  epifcopally  qualified  for  this  work.    Another 
account  amounts  to  this,  "  There  is  the  profpeel: 
of  a  Church  in  this  and  the  other  place  ;  we  have 
been  invited   to  pleach   here  and  there  ;  fo  many 
have  profeited  themfelves  members  of  the  Church, 
and  more  are  inclined  this  way".     But  of  whom  are 
thefe  declarations  made  ?  Not  of  thofe,  who  were 
brought  up  in  ignorance  of  the  chriftian  religion  $ 
not  of  thofe,  who  were  deftitute  of  the  means    of 
falvation  j  not  of  thofe,  who  had  not  the  opportu- 
nity, and  did  not  in  fad  make  ufe  of  it,  to  attend 
the  public  worfhip  of  God  ;  No  i  but  of  perfons 

that 


(    19    ) 

$he  worfhip  of  God,  where  he  was  fcarce  wor- 

fhipped  at  all  •,  but  in  millions  to  thofe  places' 

in  which  the  Gofpel  was    preached  before,   as 

truly  and  faithfully,  as  it  has  been  fince  ;  if  it 

C  2  be 

that  have  only  changed,  or  were  inclinable  to 
change,  one  mode  of  religioufly  ferving  God  for 
another  ;  and  too  often,  there  is  reafon  to  think, 
without  having  thorowly  inquired  into  matters 
of  this  nature.  Sometimes  an  account  is  given  of 
the  "  good  morals  of  the  people  of  their  charge'*. 
It  might,  I  believe,  with  exact  juftice,  be  ("aid, 
thefe  were  as  good  before,  as  fince,  their  going  to 
Church.  The  plain  truth  is,  had  one  half  the 
money  been  fpared,  for  other  ufes,  that  has  been 
expended  upon  New-England,  thofe  places  on  the 
American  Continent  which  need  it  much  more, 
might  have  been  better  provided  with  the  means 
of  falvation  :  Without  all  controverfie,  the  poor 
Indians  might  have  had  more  laborers  fent  to  them, 
both  in  the  capacity  of  minifters  and  fchool-m afters  ; 
and,  it  is  probable,  a  large  harveft  of  fouls  would, 
by  this  time,  have  been  gathered  in  for  Chrift  from 
among  them.  It  is  generally  thought  here,  if  a 
lefs  proportion  of  this  money  was  employed  for  the 
fupport  of  a  party,  and  a  far  greater  for  carrying 
the  Gofpel  to  the  numerous  aboriginal  natives.* 
who  are  totally  ignorant  of  the  true  God,  and  of 
his  fon  Jefus  Chrift,  it  would  be  as  honorary  to  the 
Society,  and  as  ^  acceptable  in  the  fight  of  God 
our  Savior,  who  will  have  all  men  to  be  faved,  and 
to  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth". 
1  fnall  not  think  it  unfeaibnable,  or  improper,  to 
fubjoin  here,  We  are  efpecially  grieved  that  the 
Society  at  home  are  not  more  zealous  in  their  en- 
deavours to  propagate  the  Gofpel  among  the  Indian 
natives^  as  an  effectual  bar,  a  few  years  fmce,  was 
laid  in  the  way  of  our  exerting  ourfelves  to  this 
purpofe,  at  leaft  by  the  inftrumentality  of  a  Corps- 
.  tjttioq  among  our  felves.    The  ftory  is  briefly  this, 


(      20      ) 

be  only  fuppofed,that  this  can  be  done  by  mint- 
fters,  not  officiating  according  to  the  order  of 
the  church  of  England.  If  one  were  to  collect 
their  fentiments  from  their  conduct,  as  repre- 
sented in  thefe  abftradts,  it  muft  be  concluded, 
that,  with  them,  the  propagation  of  the  G$f- 
Y-     •    '  '     '  ■     ,     ■  pel, 

P"pon  the  conclufion  of  the  late  war,  a  general 
Spirit  was  raifed  in  the  people  here  to  endeavour  $he 
Enlargement  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  by  fend- 
ing the  Gofpel  to  the  Tribes  of  Indians  on  our 
weftern  borders.  They  were  defirous  this  affair 
fhould  be  put  under  the  management  of  fome  a- 
inong  our  fefves  of  weH-eflablifhed  reputation  for 
wifdom,  judgment  and  piety,  and  that  they  fhould 
be  incorporated  by  an  acl:  of  the  Government  to 
this  end.  '  Two  thoufand  pounds  fterlihg  were,  in 
a  few  days,  fubferibed,  in  Bofton  only,  uppn  this 
(condition."  An  incorporating  acl:  was  accordingly 
prepared,  and  paiTed  by  the  whole  Legiflature  of 
this  Province,  and  fent  home  for  his  Majefty's  ap- 
probation, without  which  it  could  not  continue  in 
force.  But  it  Toon  met  with  a  negative,  by  means 
whereof  this  whole  money  was  loft,  and  as  much 
more  we  had  good  reafon  to  expect  would  have 
been  fubferibed,  b. fides  the  income  of  many  hun- 
dred pounds  ftcrling  that  had  been  devoted  to  the 
f-rvice  of  the  Indians.  It  is  hoped,  the  accounts 
we  have  had  are  not  true*  that  the  negative  upon 
this  acl  was  principally  owing  to  the  influence  of* 
fome  of  the  moft  important  members  of  the  Society 
for  the  propagation  of  the  Gofpel.  We  are  con-; 
tent  not  to  have  the  honor  of  employing  our  own 
rhoney  in  endeavours  to  Gofpelife  thefe  Indians,  if 
the  Society  will  heartily  and  thorowly  engage  in 
"t.  We  fhall  rejoice  to  find,  by  their  abftrac^s, 
that  needful  M.flionaries  are  fent  to  them  ;  and  far 
from  throwing  any  obftacles  in  their  way,  we 
will  do  all  ii>  cur  £pwer  to  encourage  and  h^'f 
them*     *.'■*••  •• 


(       2!       ) 

pel,  and  the  eftablifnment  of  Epifcopacy  in  the 
Britifh  Colonies,  were  convertible  tejms.  But 
this  in  tranfitu. 

Our  complaint  is,  that    the    charge   herq 
brought  againft  thefe  adventurers  has  really  no 
foundation  for  its  fupport.     It  is  not  pretend- 
ed, that  their  endeavours  to  convert   the  na- 
tives were  unmixed  with  human  frailty.     In 
common  with  other  good  men,  in  other  virtu- 
ous  undertakings,  they  had,  no  doubt,  their 
failings  ;  but  not  fuch  as  may,  with  truth  or 
tuftice,    be   called  notorious  ones.     And  it  is 
really  unkind,  I  may   rather  fay  cruelly  hard, 
to  reprefent  them  to  the  world,  as  "  becoming 
themfelves  infidels  and  barbarians",  inftead  of 
yfing  their  endeavours  to  "  convert  babarous 
infidels".     It  is  not  eafily  conceivable,  wherein 
they  could  have  exerted  themfelves  with  more 
zeal,or  in  more  prudent  ways,in  endeavouring 
to  enlarge  the  borders  of  Chrift's  kingdom  in 
thefe  "  uttermoft  parts  of  the  earth",  by  mak- 
ing the  native  barbarians  the  members  of  it. 
It  was  out  of  their  power  to  fupport  Mifllon- 
aries  among    thefe    heathen  ;  but,   in   other 
ways,  they  laid  themfelves  out,  to  the  utmoft 
of  iheir  power,  as  they   had  opportunity,  for 
their  inftruction  in  the  "  knowledge  of  God, 
smd  Jefus  Chrift,  whom  to  know  is  life  eternal". 
And  by  their  labors,  efpecially  as  encouraged 
and  aiTifted  by  the  London-Society,  and  more 
privately,  they  fo  fa,r  effected  the  converfion 

'•  r  •     *f 


(       22       ) 

pf  them,  as  that  numbers  were  prepared  and 
diipofeu  ro  make  an  open  profeflion  of  their 
faith  In  Jefus  Chrift.  The  facred  books  of 
the  old  and  new-teftament  were,  in  their  day, 
by  the  fkiil  and  labor  of  the  indefatigable 
Eliot,  *  tranflated  into  the  Indian-language, 
and  difperfed  among  the  natives  for  their  in- 
itru&ion  in  things  pertaining  to  the  kingdom 

of 

*  He  is  to  this  day  often  fpoken  of  in  that  honorable 
ftyie,  The  Apostle  of  the  Indians.  It  was 
with  great  labor  ne  made  himfelf  matter  of  the 
Indian  language  ;  ana,  as  foon  as  he  was  thus  ac- 
complifntd,.  he  preached  to  them  in  their  own 
tongue,  and  in  many  of  their  villages  :  And,by  the 
blefimgof  God  on  his  ciligent  endeavours,  (i  many 
believed,  r-nd  turned  to  the  Lord".  He  foon  had 
fever  v  c<  m  anions,  and  afterwards  fuccefibrs,  who 
were  faithful  ana  ze-'ous  in  inftructing  thefe  fava- 
ges  in  ;he  Gofpcl-rr:*  thod  of  faivation.  Schools 
were  erected  among  them,  and  fuch  books  put  into 
their  hands,  in  their  native  language,  as  their  edi- 
flcatioii  called  for.  The  confequence  was,  that? 
in  fevc  ral  villages,  Indians  met  together  every  Lord's 
day  for  the  worfhip  of  God  through  Jefus  Chrift, 
and  Churches  of  them  were  gathered,  who  fiC  walk- 
ed in  the  fear  of  theLord",  and  the  religious  obfer- 
vation  of  all  Gofpel-ordinances.  To  the  Bible, 
our  Eliot  added  a  vernon  of  the  Pfalms  in  Indian 
Mrtrcy  which  it  was  their  practice  to  fing.  This 
Indian  Bible  is  the  only  one  that  was  ever  printed 
in  this  hemifphere  of  the  univerie  j  as  it  is  ex- 
prefftd  in  the  atteftation  whence  the  above  abftracl; 
is  taken,  which  I  fhall  have  occafion  to  mention 
in  the  next  note.  I  fhall  only  add  here,  from  Dr. 
Cotton  Mather,  in  a  fermon  printed  1698,  that 
•'  there  were  then  in  thisProvince  more  than  thirty 
Indian  alTemblies,  and  more  than  thirty  hundred 
^hriflian  Indians'^ 


(     23     ) 
bf  God,  and  of  Chrift.     And  through  his  ar- 
duous endeavours,  with  thofe  of  the  renowned 
Mayhew's,  *  and  other  worthies,  a  confider- 

able 
■  Mr.  Thomas  Mayhew,  fdn  of  an  excellent  man  of 
this  name,  began,  in  another  part  of  the  Province 
the  workofgofpelifing  the  infidel-natives,  fo   far 
back  as  1641.     And   this    good   work   has  been 
carried  ori,  by  one  and  another  of  this  name  and  fa- 
mily, from  that  day  to  this.     In  1657,  many  hun- 
dred Indian  men  and  women  were  added  to  the 
chriftian  Societies  in  this  part  of  the  Countrv,  of 
fuch  as  might  be  faid  to  be  "  holy  in  their  conver- 
fation",  and  that  did  not  need,  for  knowledge,  to 
be  taught  "  the  firft  principles   of  the   oracles  of 
God"  ;  befides  many  hundreds  of  more   fuperficial 
profeflbrs.     In  the  year  1689,  the  Indian  church 
under  the  care  of  Mr.  John  Mayhew,  fon  of  the 
above  Thomas,  confifted  of  an  hundred  communi- 
cants, walking  according  to  the  rule  of  the  fcrip- 
tures.     This    is  an  extract   from  the   Rev.   Mr. 
Thomas  Prince's    general  account  of  the  EngHfh 
.  minifters,  who  prefided  at  Martha's  Vineyard. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Experience  Mayhew,  fon  of  the  be- 
fore mentioned  John,  and  father  of  the   late  me- 
morable Dr.  Mayhew,  a  Gentleman  of  fuch  fupe- 
rior  natural  endowments,  that  he  would,  had   he 
been  favoured  with  common  advantages,  have  been 
ranked  among  the  firft  worthies  of  New-Eno-Iand  ; 
and  who  fpent  a  life  protracted  feveral  years  beyond 
eighty,  in  the  fervice  of  the  Indians,  publifhed,   in 
the  year  1727,   an  o&ato  volume,  entitled  Indian 
Converts  ;  in  which  he  has  given  an  account  of  the 
lives  of  thirty  Indian  minifters,  and  about  eighty 
Indian  men,  women,  and  young  perfons,  within 
the  limits  only  of  Martha's  Vineyard,  an  Ifland  in 
Maffachufett's-Province.     And  of  thefe,  as  he  was 
a   Gentleman  of  eftablifhed  reputation  for   both 
judgment  and  veracity,  it  may  be  charitably  faid, 
they  were  all  real  converts  to  the  faith  of  Chf% 

and 


(       24     ) 

.......  1  ►     .,   I 

kble  number  of  churches,  under  trie   divine 

blefiing,  were  gathered,  confiding  of  Indian 

members,  many  of  whom   gave  proof  of  the 

Reality  of  their  converfion,  by  their  walking  iri 

the  faith  and  order  of  the  Gofpel,  fo  as  to  a* 

dorn   the  doctrine  of  him,   whom   they  now 

called  their  only    Savior  and  Lord.     Some  of 

thefe  churches  have  continued  in  fucceHlon 

even    to    this   day,    with  Englifh,  or  Indian 

tailors  at  their  head.  *     The  above  reprefen- 

tation 

and  fome  of  them  in  a  diftinguifhing  degree,  clear- 
ly evidenced  by  their  manner  of  life,   which  was 
fuch  as  may  make  many  Englifh   profefTors  blu/h, 
of  whom  it  may  be  hoped,  that  they  are  chriftians  in 
truth,  as  well  as  name.     In  the  Atteftation  to  this 
account,  figned  by  eleven  Bofton   minifters,   fbrhe 
of  whom  are  now  alive,  it  is  faid,  ct  That  they 
"  who  may  ignorantly  arid   imperioufly  fay,  noth- 
<c  ing  has  been  done,  may  be  confuted  ;  and  that 
**  they,  who  are  defirous  to  fee  fomething  that  has 
*c  been  done,  may   be  entertained   and  gratified  • 
"  here  is  now  exhibited  a  collection  of  examples, 
*4  wherein  the  glorious  grace  of  our  great  Redeemer 
fe  has  appeared  to,  and  on,  the  Indians  of  New- 
"  England.     It  muft  not  be  imagined,  thefe  are  all 
*'  that  could  have  been  collected  ;  for  all  thefe  are 
*'  felected  only  from  one  Ifland".— - — It  is  faid  far- 
ther, M  the  author  of  this  hiftory,  iMr.   Experience 
Mayhew,  is  a  perfon  of  incontefiible  veracity  : — We 
again  fay,  his  truth  may  be  relied  on>  his  fidelity  is  ir- 
reproachable'*, 

*  There  are,  at  this  day,  within  the  Province  of  the 
MafTachufett's-Bay  only,  fixteen  minifters,  Englifh 
and  Indian,  flatedly  laboring,  either  as  Paftors  of 
lb  many  Indian  churches,  or  as  Preachers  to  alTem- 
¥lies  of  Indians  that  meet  together  for  divine  wor- 


(      §S      5 

btion  is  fo  generally  known  here  to  contain 

the  real  truth,  that  it  was  greatly  furprifing  to 

many,  to  fee  his  Lordmip  fo  impofed  upon  by 

fuch  as  were  either  grofly  ignorant  of  what  had 

been   done  by  thefe  adventurers,  or  wicked 

enough,  in  oppofition  to  their  knowledge,  to 

give  him  an  account  that   was  odioully  falfe 

and  injurious. 

|  >  .  j  til 

His  Lordfriip  proceeds,  cc  the  pretences  and 

*c  conditions  were,  that  their  defign  was,  and 

"  that  they   mould  endeavour,  the  enlarge- 

<c  ment  of  commerce,  and  the  propagation  of 

'*  chriftian  faith.     The  former  they  executed 

"  with   fincerity  and  zeal  •,  in  the  latter  moll 

"  notorioufly  failed5'.     He  then   adds   in  the 

immediately    following  paragraph,   cs  Their 

"  failure  herein  might  well  have  been  expect-' 

u  ed.     Religion  and  traffic,  their  two  profefTed 

"  objects,  are  but  ill  yoke-fellows,  being  apt  to 

"  draw  quite  different  ways  :  And  men  who 

"  wkh  defperate  hardinefs  invade   unknown 

D  "difficulties 

(hip  -3  nine  Englifh  Lecturers,  and  feven  (rated 
School-mafters,  befides  occafional  ones  :  All  which, 
are  under  the  care  of  Commiflloners  here  from  the 
honorable  Company  for  the  propagation  of  the 
Gofpel  in  New-England,  and  parts  adjacant  in 
America.  The  above  account  was  handed  to  me 
from  the  records  of  thefe  Commiflloners.  There 
are,  at  the  fettlement  called  Mafhpe,  two  hundred 
Indians,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hawley5 
who  know  no  God  befides  the  ever-living  Jehovah, 
and  ftatedly  pay  worfhip  tp  him  through  the  one 
Mediator  Jefus  Chrifi, 


*s  difficulties  and  dangers  in  queft  of  gain; 
u  cculd  not  be  fuppofed  to  be  much  concern- 
*c  ed  about  fpiritual  interefts,  Religion  is  but 
"  an  impediment  in  the  way  of  avarice  :  Many 
*'  things  thereby  prohibited,  are  deemed  allow- 
"  able,  and  flick  clofe  to  traffic".  Some  of 
the  adventurers  to  this  part  of  the  world  might 
have  the  affair  of  commerce  principally  in  their 
view  •,  but,  notwithstanding  their  "  finceiky 
and  zeal",  they  foon  found  their  miftake  in 
woful  difappointment,  and  moftly  returned 
home.  The  fettlers  of  this  part  of  America 
were  men  of  another  turn.  Liberty  to  wcrftdp 
God  agreably  to  the  dilates  of  conference  was  the 
grand  motive  to  their  removal  hither  -9  and  the 
enjoyment  of  this  liberty  at  fo  great  a  diftance 
from  cppreffive  power  was  their  fuppcrc  under 
heavier  tryals  than  can  eafily  be  conceived  of 
by  thofe  who  have  never  been  in  a  wildernefs- 
country.  It  might  therefore  be  well  expected 
of  fuch  men,  if  of  any  in  the  world,  that  they 
mould  not  be  guilty  of  u  notorious  failures"  ; 
as  it  is  certain  they  were  not.  It  is  acknow- 
ledged, if  "  religion  and  traffic"  had  been  their 
"  two  profeiTed  objects",  they  would  have 
been  "  but  ill  yoke-fellows",  for  the  reafons 
his  JLordfhip  affigns.  And  may  it  not  be  faid, 
for  the  like  reafons,  with  equal  propriety  and 
truth,  that  worldly  dignity,  riches  and  power, 
Conjoined  with  a  profeffion  and  defign  to  ad- 
vance 


(    *7    ) 

vance  the  intereft  of  "  a  kingdom  that  is  not 
of  this  world",  are  as  ill-matched  companions. 
Good  may  be,  has  been,  and,  I  trull,  is  now 
done  by  thofe,  in  whofe  view  there  was  a  re- 
gard to  the  honors  and  riches  of  this  world,  as 
well  as  the  promotion  cf  Chriftianity  ;  and  the 
fame  may  be  faid  of  others,  in  whofe  defign 
the  objects  united  were  religion  and  traffic.  * 

D  2  But 

*  An  illuflricus  inftance  we  have  of  this  in  Mr. 
Thomas  May  hew,  the  ftrft  of  this  name  in  Ame- 
rica. He  came  over  as  a  merchant  to  theMafTachu- 
fetts,  in  the  early  times  of  that  plantation,  and, 
meeting  with  disappointments  in  his  bufinefs,  he 
procured,  in  164.1,  a  Grant  or  Patent  of  Sir  Fer- 
dinando  Gorges,  the  Earl  of  Sterling's  agent,  for 
Martha'sVineyard, Nantucket,  &  Elifabeth  I{les,  to 
make  an  Englifh  fettlement.  He  was  Governor  as 
well  asPatentee  of  thefelflands.  This  led  him,  tho* 
now  about  55  years  of  age,  to  learn  fo  much  of  the 
language  of  the  natives  as  was  needful  to.  under- 
ftand  and  difcourfe  with  them.  And  as  he  grew 
in  this  acquirement,  he  was  greatly  helpful  to  his 
fon  Thomas,  now  a  preacher  to  them, in  the  pious 
work  of  making  them  Chriftians.  Upon  the  Iofs 
of  this  his  excellent  and  only  (on  in  1657,  though 
now  in  theyoth  year  of  his  age,  an  holy  zeal  for  the 
glory  of  God,  and  a  mofl  companionate  charity  for 
the  fouls  of  the  perifhing  Indian?,  kindle  up  in  his 
breaft.  They  raift  him  above  all  thofe  ceremonies 
forms  and  diftii  ctions  that  lay  in  the  way,  and 
which  he  accounted  as  nothing  in  competition  with 
their  eternal  jalvation  ;  and  he  thereupon  refolvts, 
havine;  no  profpect  of  a  regular  minifter,  to  do  his 
utmofr.  to  carry  on  the  good  work  that  had  been 
begun  among  them,  notwithstanding  all  external 
difficulties  and  discouragements.  He  frequently 
yi4tedji  converfed  with,  and  inftiu&ed  this  poor 


C    28    ) 

But  thefe  are  cafes  not  very  common  °,  as  ws 

ftall  foon  fee,  if  we  only  look  into  pad  hiftory. 

By  fo  doing  it  will  perhaps  be  found,  that  the 

connection 

people.     He  went  once  a  week  to  fome  of  their 
plantations.     At  fa  advanced  an  age,-  he  fet  him- 
felf  with  unwearied  ciliger.ee  to  perfect  himfelf  in 
their  difHcult  language  ;  and,  tho'a  Governor,  yet 
Was   not  afhamed   to    become   a  preacher  an.org 
them.     He  ordinarily  preached   to  fome  of  their 
aflemblies  one  day  every  week  as  long  as  he  lived. 
And  his  heart  was  fo  exceedingly  engaged  in   the 
fervice,  thac  he  fpared   no  pains,  nor  fatigues  at  fo 
great  an  age  therein  ;  fometimes  travelling  on  foot 
jnigh  twenty  miles  through  the  woods  to  preach  and 
vifit,  where  there  was  no  Englifh  houfe  near  to 
lodge   at  in  his  abfence  from  home.     In    a  few- 
years  time,  with   the  ailiftance  of  thofe  religious 
Indians  who  taught  on  the  Lord'-day,  he  perfuaded 
the  natives  on  the  weft-end  of  the   Ifland  to  re- 
ceive the  Gofpel,  who  had  many  years  been  obfti- 
fiately  refolved  againft  it  ;  fo  that  now  the  Indians 
on  the  Ifl :s  of  Martha's  Vineyard  and  Nantucket 
might  juftly   bear  the  name   of  Chriftian.     The 
number  of  their  adult,  on  both  thefe  lilands,  was 
then  about  three   thoufand.     Ke  went  on  labori- 
oufly  in  this  ncble  work  of  promoting  the  fa'vat'en 
Of  the  fouls  of  thtfe  Indians  to  the  93d  year  of  his 
age,  when  he  died  to  the  great  lamentation  both  of 
the  Engiifh  and  Indians.— When  the  incorporated 
Society  at  home  {hall  fee  fit,  in  their  pious  zeal  for 
the  propagation  of- the  Gofpel,  to  employ  MUion- 
aries,  as  they  might  eafily  do,  among  the  Indian 
heathen  fettled  all   over  this  Continent,  who  fhall 
exert  thefnfelves  with   like  refolute  diligence  and 
fidelity,  to u  turn  them  from  darknefs  to  light",  in 
oppcfition  to  all  the  difficulties  and  hardfhips  they 
may  be  called   to  contend  with,  we  will56  highly 
eiteem  them  in  love  for  their  work's  fake"  ;  and^ 
inftead  of  treating  their  names  with  reproach.,  yg^ 
Will  greatly  "  honor  them  in  the  Lord'', 


(      29      ) 

connexion  of  honors,  riches  and  power,  with 
employments  that  are  fpiritual,  has  been  as 
fruitfulan  occafion  of  pride,  haughtinefs,  tam- 
pering with  Princes,  and  advifmg  and  helping 
forward  oppreflive  tyranny  over  conference,  as 
the  mixture  of  "  traffic  with  religion*'  has  ever 
been  ofthofe  deceitful  fraudulent  acts  the  latter 
prohibits. 

It  follows  in  the  next  words,  "Commerce  in- 
w  deed  has  been  the  occafion  of  communicating 
*'  the  knowledge  of  Chrili  from  nation  to  na- 
*'  tion  ;  but  perions  engaged  therein  have  not 
4,1  been  the  communicators  of  it  :  Their  bufi- 
*c  nefs  is  of  another  fort.  But  this  has  been 
V  done  by  other  men,  detached  from  worldly 
ftC  affairs,  and  zealous  and  fkilful  in  divine 
|C  knowledge  •,  who,  taking  the  advantage  of 
46  the  intercourfe  opened  by  them  with  other 
"  views,  have  preached  the  gofpel  where  it  was 
rfC  before  unknown.  In  this  way  our  Planters 
"  have  excelled,  having  given  double  occafion 
*'  of  propagating  chriftianity  among  the  na- 
fc  tive  heathen  of  thefe  regions,  and  among 
"  themfelyes  alfo,  who  foon  became  heathen". 

By  the  fifft  recited  words  in  this  paffage, 
the  idea  obvioufly  and  intentionally  conveyed 
to  the  world  is,  that  our  Planters,  being  en- 
gaged  in  the  bufinefs  of  traffic,  might  be  the 
occafion  of  communicating  the  knowledge  of 

Chrift 


(     3°    > 
Shrill  to  the  barbarians  here,   but    that  they 
were  not  themfelves  the  communicators  of  it. 
This  was  done  by  others,  no  doubt,  the  wor- 
thy  miflionaries   from   the  Society  at  home  ; 
who,  being  detached  from  worldly  affairs,  and 
zealous  and  fkilful  in  divine  knowledge,  took 
pccafion,  from  the  intercourfe  that  had  been 
opened  with  thofe    to  whom  "the  Gofpel  was 
unknown,  to   preach  it  to  them.     So  that  it 
fhould  feem,  thefc  Miflionaries,  not  the  Plan- 
ters, were  the  only  perfons  who  had  any  hand 
in  propagating  Chr iftianity   in   thefe  parts  of 
the  world.     A  goodly  account  truly  !   Nothing 
could  have  been  faid   more  honorary  either  of 
the  Society,    or  their  MifTionaries  -,  and    the 
glory  reflected  on  them  mines  the  brighter,  as 
it  is  con  traded  with   the  hightft  reproach  that 
could  be   caft  on   the    Planters.     The    good 
people  in  England,  who  are  unacquainted  with 
the  tranfaclions  in  this  new  world,  may  be  led, 
from  the  above  reprefentation,  into   exalted 
apprehenfions  cf  the  pious  endeavours  both 
oftheSociety  &  theirMiilionaries.     It  is  indeed 
well  adapted   to  open  their  hearts   and   hands 
in  contributions  to  carry  on  what  they  have  fo 
hopefully   begun.     But    the   unhappinefs   is, 
heaven  and  earth  are  not  more  diftant  from 
each  other,  than  this  account  is  from  the  truth 
of  the  cafe  -,  as  We,  who  live  here,  do  certain- 
ly know  :  For  which  reafon,   to  fay  noihing. 
ir.ore  harfh,  we  are  really  aftonifhed. 


r  3«  ) 

By  the  latter  ones,  a  great  myftery  is  ope  ti- 
ed. It  always  appeared  to  us  an  unaccounta* 
ble  thing,  that  the  Society  for  propagating  the 
Gofpel  in  thefe  foreign  parts  fhould  lay  out 
fuch  vaft  fums  of  their  money  in  fupporting 
Millenaries,  efpecially  in  places  that  were  mod 
populous,  and  had,  as  we  imagined,  the  lead 
need  of  them  ;  but  the  difficulty  is  now  un- 
ravelled. We  had  given  "double  occasion 
of  propagatingChriftianity"  •,  that  is, occasion 

"  AMONG    OUR    SELVES    WHO    SOON     BECAME" 

heathen",  as  well  as  "  among  the  native 
heathen  of  thefe  regions".  It  is  eafily  per- 
ceivable, from  what  is  here  faid,  that  not  only 
hisLord(hip,butthe  incorporatedSociety  before 
whom  he  preached,  unlefs  their  vote  of  thanks 
was  a  meer  compliment,  look  upon  us  as  hav- 
ing made  our  felves  "  Heathen".  And,  if  this 
is  our  juft  character,  proper  occafion  was  offer- 
ed for  the  "  propagation  of  Chriftianity"  a- 
mong  us  -,  and  they  have  kindly  pitied  our 
wretched  cafe,  and  fent  a  vaft  fupply  of  help 
to  deliver  us  out  of  it.  We  are  heartily  forry 
fo  very  refpeclable  a  body  of  men  mould  en- 
tertain fuch  a  bad  opinion  of  us.  It  can  be 
owing  to  one  or  other  of  thefe  two  caufes  only. 
They  either  think,  with  fome  they  have  fent 
to  us,  that  we  have  no  true  mini/lers,  no  accept- 
able zvorjhip,  no  valid  adminiftration  of  facra- 
ments,  and,  in  a  word,  no  religion  of  any  value ; 


(      32      ) 

as  our  minifters  have  not  had  the  hands  of  fome 
Mi/hop^   in  a  lineal  fucceffion  from  the  Apoflles^ 
impojed  on  them,  and  our  religious  fer vices  are 
performed  conformably  to  the  dilates  of  our  con- 
jciences,  and  not    that  decent  form   which   has 
been  eftablifhed  by    the   Government  at   home  ; 
Or  they  have  been  led,   by  cruelly  hard  and 
notorioufly  falfe  reprefentations  of  us,  to  ima- 
gine, that  we  are  become  like  to  the  native  bar- 
barous heathen  themfelves  •,  ignorant  of  God 
and  our  obligations  to  him  •,  without  any  fenfe 
of  religion,  or  practical  regard  to  it ;  and  giv- 
en up  to  commit  all  uhcieanefs  and  wickednels 
with  greedinefs.     We  would  not  think  fo  re- 
proachfully either  of  his  Lordfhip,  or  the  Soci- 
ety, as  to  attribute  the  iil  opinion  they  have 
conceived   of  us  to  the  firfi  of  th6fe  caufes  : 
Nor  (hall  we  be  brought  to  it  by  any  thing 
fhort  of  their  plain  affirmation  in  the  cafe.     We 
cannot  therefore  but  fuppofe,  that  the  Colo- 
nies have  been  let  before  their  view  in  an  hor- 
ribly abufive  light,  by  fome  fecret  back- biters 
and  revilers,  through  bigotry,  prejudice,  ma- 
lice, intereft,  or  fome  other  lutt  of  the  fielh  or 
mind. 

His  Lordfhip,  in  the  next  paragraph,  hav- 
ing reflected  blame  upon  the  Government, in 
thefe  times  for  the  "  defection"  he  had  charged 
the  Colonies  with,  and  aggravated  this  blame 
hf  feveral  weighty  confiderations,    exprefTes 

himfelf. 


(     33     ) 

{limfelf,  pag.  to.  in  thefe  words,  "  Now  this 
€C  great  evil,  irreligion,  might  at  firfl  have  eafi- 
*5  ly  been  prevented  growing  in  our  Colonies  ; 

V  but  the  fame  evil,  having  been  fuifered  tai 
"  grow,   hath   been  found  Co   hard  to  expel, 

V  that  now,  after  more  than  60  years  diligent 
tc  endeavour,  it  is  very  far  from  being  era- 
"  dicated".  If  by  irreligion,  the  great  evil 
fpoken  of,  is  meant,  the  great  impiety  of  ferv- 
ing  God,  without  doing  it  after  the  mode  of 
the  eilabliflied  Church  at  home,  it  is  acknow- 
ledged, its  "  growth  was  not  prevented  at  firft", 
if  it  might  have  been  ;  and  it  has  been  u  iuffer- 
ed  to  grow"  ever  fince,  without  interruption, 
until  about  the  time  of  the  Revolution  in  Eng- 
land, and  fince  then  by  theSocietyfor  the  propa- 
gation of  theGofpcl  in  foreign  parts.  And  it  is 
hoped,  by  at  lead  twenty  nine  in  thirty  thro'- 
out  New-England,  that  it  will,  inftead  of  be- 
ing eradicated,  go  on  to  grow,  even  to  the  end 
of  time,  notwiihftanding  all  efforts  that  may 
be  made  to  the  contrary.  If  this  be  "  irreli-? 
gion",  we  are  not  afhamed  to  glory  in  it,  tho* 
we  mould  be  accounted  "  fools  for  thus  glory- 
ing" i  nor  are  there  wanting  thofe  here,  who 
would  efteem  it  ''better  to  die  than  that  any 
man",  or  body  of  men,  "  fhould  make  thtir 
glorying  void"  in  this  refpect.  But  if  by  the 
'£  growth  of  irreligion"  his  Lordfhip  would  be 
understood  to  mean,  the  increafe  of  irreverence 
towards  God,  expreffed   in    an  unbecoming 

E  treatmenc 


(    34    ) 

treatment  of  his  name,  perfections,  and  govern- 
ing authority  ;  unrighreoufnefs  towards  men, 
difcovered   in   the  various  ways  of  fraudulent 
and  cppreflive  dealing  •,  and  a  difregard  to  the 
great  christian  law  of  fobriety,  made  manifeft 
by  an  indulgence  to   pride,  luxury,   extrava- 
gance, uncleanefs,  and  thofe  other  lufts  which 
argue   the  want   of  dv.e  felf-government  :  I 
fay,  if  this  is  what   his   Lordfhip   means,. by 
"  the  growth  of  irreligion",  he  had  no  need  to 
have  looked  fo  far  for  it  as  thefe  diftant  regions. 
Unltfs  the  land  which   gave  cur  fore-fathers 
birth  is  greatly  abufed,  both  by  its  own  inhabi- 
tants, and  others  who  have  been  there,  it  dees 
not  come  at   all   behind    the  Colonies   in  this 
kind  of  growth,  even  heightned  in  malignity  t 
While  yet,  the  whole   body    of  duly  authorifed 
Clergymen,  fuperior  and  inferior,  have,  if  they 
have  done  their  duty,  been  diligently  employ- 
ing their  time  and  pains,  for  more   than  60 
years  many  times  told,  to   give  check  to   it  ; 
and  under  the  advantage  too  of  that  eftablifh- 
ed  mode  of  performing  divine  fervi'ce,  which, 
for  a  long  time,  was  not  in  ufe  here.     And   if 
the  abounding  growth  of  iniquity  could   not 
be  prevented  at  home  by   the  united  force  of 
fo  many  regularly  ordained  minifters,  high  and 
low,  faithfully  laboring  to  promote  fo  good  a, 
defign,  and  in  conformity  to  the  prefcribed 
order  of  the  bed  religious  eftabliftiment  in  the 
world  ;  why  mould  it  be  thought  ftrange,  rf 


(    35    ) 

there  was  the  growth  of  like  bad  fruit  in  the 
Colonies,  which  could  not  have  been  fo  fully 
favoured  with  the  enjoyment  of  thefc  advan- 
tages ? 

What  the  true  (late  of  the  fouthern  Colonies 
is,  *  I  leave  to  be  defcribed  by  thofe  who  are 

E  2  better 

f  The  prefent  Arch-Bifhop  of  Canterbury,  in  his 
fociety-fermon,  preached,  in  17415.  when  he  was 
Bifhop  of  Oxford,  fpeaking  of  more  of  the  Britifti 
Colonies  than  one,  fays,  pag.  5.  ««  I  here  were  fcarce 
iC  any  footfteps  of  Chnfiianity  left,  beyond  the 
<c  meer  name.  NoTeac^ier  was  known, no  religious 
«c  afTembly  held  ;  the  Lord's-day  diftinguifhed  only 
*c  by  more  general  diflblutenefs  ;  the  facrament  of 
"  baptifm  not  adminiflred  for  near  twenty  years  to- 
«'  gether,  nor  that  of  the  Lord's  fupper  for  near  fix- 
"  ty,  among  many  thoufands  of  people,  who  did  not 
<?c.  deny  the  obligation  of  trufe  duties,  but  lived 
"  not  with  flan  ding  in  a  flupid  neglect  of  them". 
The  more  fouthern  Colonies,  it  is  fuppcfed,  are 
here  held  forth  to  view  ;  as  the  defcription  cannot, 
with  fo  much  as  thcfhadow  of  truth,  be  applied  to 
any  other.  And  according  to  this  reprefentaJtian  of 
them,  they  were  certaidy  fit  objects  of  theSociety's 
companionate  regards  ;  efpecially  as  they  were  in- 
corporated principally  with  a  defign  to  extend  their 
care  to  fuch  of  the  Plantations,  whofe  {Lite  was  thus 
deplorably  fad.  One  would  therefore  naturally 
think  that,  in  proportion  to  their  ability,  and  the 
need  of  thefe  places,  they  would  have  fent  Miluo- 
naries  to  perform  the  offices  of  re!igion  among  them. 
And  yet,  if  we  look  over  theii  ab;f  acls,  we  (hall 
find,  that  their  pious  zeal  has  chief!;/  diicojrered  it 
fe!f  in  millions  to  other  Colonies,  where  1  eachers 
•abound,  trie  wo;mip  of  God  on  Lord's-days  is  ge- 
nerally and  reiigiouHy  attended,  and  the  facraments 
of  baptifm  and  the  Lord's-fupper  are  as  duly  adrov- 

1 


*      3^     ) 

better  acquainted  with  them  than  I  can  pre-, 
tend  to  bet     But,  as  to  the  more  northern  ones, 
thole  particularly  thai:  are   comprehended  un- 
der 

yiiftred  as  in  England  itfelf ;    and  this  to  the  com- 
parative neglect  of  the  above  defcribeci  places, 
where  there  was  fcarce  any  f:nfe  or  appearance  of 
Chriftianity.     What   is  here  laid   of  the  Society's 
conduct  is  as  true  a  fact,  as  that  their  ahilracls  re- 
late the  truth.     It  can,  as  I  imagine,  be  accounted 
for  upon  no  principle  but  this,  that  they  think  they 
ihall  better  anfwer  the  great  dcfign  of  their  incorpo- 
ration by  zsa'oils  endeavours  to  make  converts  from 
Preibyterianifm  and  Congregationalism   to  Epifco- 
pacy,  than  by  propagating  the  gorpe.l  in  places  that 
have  no  Teacher,  no  public  worfhip  of  God,  nofa- 
crament?,  nor  any  footfteps  of  Chriftianity  beyond 
the  meer  name.     If  this  is  really  their  principle,  it 
Is  hoped  they  will  not  be  averfe  openly  to  avow  it 
in  words,  as  they  virtually  do  in  their  practice. 
Thofe  places  are  then  fpoken  of,  pag.  ibid,  where  the 
'ftate  of  tbrngs  was  u  a  little  better",  but  ftiil  "la- 
mentably bad".     The  more  northernColonies  mull: 
be  here  intended.     But  v/hy  are  they  reprefented  as 
in  circumftances  lamentably  bad  ?    For  no  reafon 
that  we  know  of  here  that  could  move  thecompaf- 
fionof  the  Society,  but  this,  that  Episcopacy  had 
not  got  fuch  ftrong  footing  here  as  they  might  de- 
fire.    And  however  "affe&ing  repiefentations  might 
be  made""  of  our  deplorable  condition  by  "  the  in- 
habitants in  thefe  parts,  by  Governors,  or  principal 
perfons  of  note  *,  to  life  the  language  of  the  fermon, 
a  becoming  regard  to  their  honor  as  men  of  truth, 
obliges  us  to  fay,  th;.t  their  repiefentations  muftre- 
fp.ci:  ourftater  chiefly -IB  this  point  of  view,  viz. 
the  nbn-pervalcnce  of  the  Church  among  us.    This, 
I  know,  is,  in'the  judgment  of  fonie,  the  mofi  deplo- 
rable ft ite  a  people  can  be  in,   however  highly  fa- 
vored they  may  be  with  the  means  of  grace,   urder 
Another  mode  of  adro;niftrat,or,  though  more  ag/e=* 
^bie  to  the  purity  and  fimp;icity  of  the  gofpcJ, 


(    37    ) 

der  the  name  of  New-England,  ic  is  acknow- 
ledged, they  have  too  far  departed  from  the 
fimpliciry,  piety,  and  itrict  virtue  of  their  fa- 
thers. .There  may  be  fome  infidels  within 
thefe  limits  -,  but  their  number,  I  believe,  is 
very  fmall.  Thofe  that  are  fo  came  to  us  from 
abroad,  or  were  corrupted  by  books  wrote  an 
horns,  and  imported  trom  thence.  There  arc 
alfo  to  be  found,  in  thefe  parts,  men  of  no  con- 
science, difTolute  in  their  mariners,  and  ac- 
cuftomed  to  do  evil  ;  ordering  their  conven- 
tion by  flefhly  wifdom,  not  by  the  grace  of 
God.  But  this  notwithstanding,  I  will  be  bold 
to  fay,  true  Chriftianity  is  not  more  generally 
better  practifed  in  any  part  of  the  world. 
There  is  not  a  town,  or  village,  within  thefe 
largely  extended  Colonies,  (Rhode-Ifland  Co- 
lony excepted)  unlefs  fo  lately  fettled  as  not  to 
have  had  time  for  it,  but  is  furnimed  with  a 
houfe  for  the  worfhip  of  God,  and  a  minifier 
fet  apart  for  the  adminiftration  of  Gofpel-ordi- 
nances  in  it  •,  and,  at  thefe  houfes,  there  is 
every  LordVday,  and  at  other  times  alfo,  a 
general  refort  of  the  people  to  atrend  on  the 
public  fervices  of  religion.  1  fhould  not  wrong 
the  truth,  fnould  1  fay,  that  neither  tbeLord's- 
day,  or  his  worfhip  on  that  day,  are  moreuni- 
verially  and  devoutly  regarded  by  any  people 
on  the  earth.  And  as  to  the  moral  and  chri- 
JHan  virtues  of  faith  in  the  being,  perfections, 
revelations,  and.  government  of  Godx  love  to 
i  .  him, 


(     38     ) 

him,  an  holy  fear  of  him,  truft  in  his  ail-fufHci- 
ency,  and  fubjection  to  his  will,  however  made 
known,  whether  in  his  word,  or  providential 
conduct,  they  are  as  generally  poflliTed  here, 
and  thrown  out  into  exeicife  upon  proper  oo 
cafions,  as  in  any  part  of  the  known  world. 
And  it  would  be  a  wrong  to  thele  Colonies, 
ihould  a  contrary  reprefentation  be  given  of 
their  character. 

I  mall  add  here,  whatever  growth  of  vice 
there  may  be  in  thefe  parts,  it  is  as  vifible  in 
the  cures  of  the  MifTionaries  from  the  Society, 
as  where  they  are  neither  employed,  or  defiied. 
And  from  hence  it  may  be  juflly  concluded, 
as  thefe  MifTionaries,  through  the  pious  care  of 
the  Society,  are  as  numerous  here  as  any- 
where on  the  American  Continent,  that  this 
growth, in  whatever  degree  it  may  prevail, is  not 
owing  to  the  want  of  validly  ordained  minifiers, 
or  any /fecial  mode  of  performing  divine  worfhip  \, 
but  to  other  caufes.  What  thcfe  are,  it  would 
be  eafy,  were  it  needful,  to  point  out.  They 
have  operated,  it  may  be?  more  powerfully  in 
corrupting  the  nation  at  home,  than  its  depen- 
dant Colonies.  Whenever  they  sre  removed, 
religion,  in  unftained  glory,  will  more  univer- 
fally  take  place  both  there  and  here  ;  but  not 
till  then. 

His  Lordihip  fpeaks,  a  few  pages  onwards, 
of  feveral  things  that  obftruct  the  Society's  en- 
deavours 


(    39     ) 

deavours  to  eradicate  irreligion,  the  inveterate 
evil,  fo  widely  diffufed  over  this  vaft  tract  of 
Country. 

One  is,  to  ufe  his  own  words,  pag.  19.  "  The 
€C^want  of  Seminaries  in  thefe  parts,for  the  edu- 
<c  cfatiori  of  perfons  to  ferve  in  the  miniitry  of 
"  the  Gofpel  :  A  great  difadvantage  ;  fo  great, 
"  that  there  is  reafon  to  apprehend,  it  may  one 
"  day  undo  all  that  the  Society  have  been  for 
"  many  years  laboring  to  do".     Had  his  Lord- 
mi  p  thought  it  worth  while  to  have  more  fully 
informed  himfelf  of  the  ftate  of  things  in  this 
part  of  the  world,  he  would  have  found  no-rea- 
fon  for  complaint  upon  this  head.     Seminaries 
for  the  education  of  perfons  to  ferve  in  the  mi- 
nistry, or  any  other  calling  that  would  make  a 
learned  education  proper,  are,  it  may  be,  rather 
too  numerous  in  the  Colonies.    They  are  more 
multiplied  here,   in  proportion,  than  in  Eng- 
land i  though  there  may  be  no  comparifon  be- 
tween their  endowments.     We   have  no  lefs 
than  fix  public  Seminaries  in  North- America. 
Two  of  them,  one  at  Virginia,  the  other  at 
New-York,  areEpifcopal  colleges  •,  and  a  third, 
that  at  Philadelphia,  has  an  Epifcop'al  Clergy- 
man at  its  head.     The  other  three  are  open  to 
the  fons  of  Church-men,  in  common  with  the 
fons  of  others  \  and  they  are  admitted  with  the 
fame  freedom,  and,  I  may   add,  without  any 
previously  required    oaths,   or   fubfcriptions, 

7 


C     40     ) 

The  mod  refpedbblcof  th-fe.  Colleges  for  long 

ftanding,  &  endowments,  is  that  at  Cambridge 

in   the  MaiTachufetts-Fiovince.  *      There     is 

fcarce 

*  This  was  the  firft  College  in  the  American  world. 
So  far  back  as  163%  thV  Mafochufetts  General  Af- 
fembly  gave  ^400  towards  it's  rife.    .In   the   neoct 
following  year   but  one,  the  nv  rrorable  John  Harr 
vard  left,  by  his  lafl:  will,  one  half  of  his   cftate  to 
carry    on  the  fame  good  deilj;n.     And  this   year^ 
1 6  ^8,  gives  date  to  the  foundation  of  this  College* 
It  has  ever  firce  been  known  by  the  name  of  Har~ 
vard    (College.       It   was     errfcted    principally 
for  the  Education  of  our  fons  to  ferve  in  the  woifc 
of  the  MininVy,  that,  as  Churches  were  multiplied, 
theie  might  be  no  want  of  futably  qualified  perfons 
to  take  the  pafioral  care  of  them.     And  from  hence 
Only  they  were  fupplied  much  the  greater  part  of  & 
o  r.tury  ;  and  with  more  than  a  few  of  fuchas  made 
aihining  figure  in  thtir  day.     Moft  of  the  beft  cha- 
rter in  theCountiy  for  acquired  accompHmments, 
who  have  ferved   either  in  Church  or  State,  were 
educateJ    here,  at    lead  until    other  Colleges  were 
erected.    It  may  be  faid  of  thi?,  without  reflection, , 
that,  in  consequence  of  donations,  in   former  days 
and  more  lately,  from  our  own  people,   and  front 
abroad, it  is  the  be  ft  endowed  of  anyCollege  on  the 
American  Continent,  though  it  may  be  below   all  ' 
Companion  with   the  Colleges   in   Europe.     That 
excellently    good    and   catholic    Gentleman,    Mr. 
Thomas   Hollis  of  London,  ought  always  to  be 
mentioned  with  honor  as  one  of  its  greateft  bene- 
factors.    His  liberal  hand,  bcfides  kindly  benefiting 
tbeCollege  other  ways,  was  ftretched  out  to  eftab- 
lifti  two  profrff  >rs  in  it  ;  the  firft,  in  1722,  for  in— 
ftru&iori  in  Divinity  ;   the  other,  in  1727,  to  teach 
the   Mathematicks    and   Philofophy  :  Both  which 
eftal  lifhments  have  been  greatly   conducive  to  the 
good  educafion  of  the  Students  here.     His  worthy 
Nephew,  and  Heir3  of  the  fame  name,  ?.n4  the  like. 

benevolent 


r  4i  } 

fcarce  a  Church-man,  in  this  Province,  of  any 
figure,  but  has  had  one  or  more  of  his  Tons  e- 
ducated  here  •,  and  it  is  from  hence,  that  the 
Society  at  home  have  had,  perhaps,  the  mod  of 
thofe  they  have  employed  in  the  New-England 
Colonies,  which  have  been  the  greateft  fharers 
in  their  pious  care  to  propagate  the  Gofpeh  It 
may  be  farther  faid  to  the  honor  of  thisCollege, 
and  in  proof  of  their  being  actuated,  hot  by  a 
fpirit  of  bigotry,  but  the  noble  fpirit  of  true 
chriflian  liberty,  that,  far  from  obliging  their, 
youths  of  Church-principles  to  join  in  public 
worfhip,  where  it  is  carried  on  after  the  Con- 

F  gregationa! 

benevolent  Spirit,  has,  for  many  years,  made  thte 
College  the  fpecial  object  of  his  generous  bounty  5 
and  it  ftill  keeps  flowing  in    upon   it,    as  from  a 
neverTfailing     fountain.     No   one  can    enter  the 
College-Library-Chamber,  but  he  will  have  full  in 
his  eye  a  large  collection  of  very  valuable  and  curi- 
oufly   chofen  books,  and   be  told    in   golden  cha- 
racters that  they  are  his  gift.     I  would  yet  fay  here, 
as  this  College  has  fhewn  fo  much  candor  and  ca- 
thoiicifm  in  its  fentiments  and  conduct  towards  the 
Church  of  England  ;  and  as  it  has  been   fo  helpful 
to  the  Society  ,at  home  in  fupplying  them  with 
moft  of  their  Miflionaries  for  the  northern  Colonies, 
it  would  have  been  but  a  decent  compliment,  if  it 
had  been  accounted  worthy  of  fome  fmall  part  of 
the  large  fum  lately  collected  throughout  England 
for  the  benefit  of  Seminaries  in  thefe  parts  of  the 
world.     Such  as  were  of  Church-principles  might 
have  been  educated,  for  the    Indian- fervice  with   as 
much  freedom  here  as  elfewhere  ;    and,  probably, 
as  many  might  have  gone  from   hence  upon   the 
noble  defign  of  carrying  the  Gofpel  to  the  barba=- 
rous  natives. 


gregational  mode,  they  have   excufed  therri 
from  it  by  a  funding  law  made  on   purpofe  : 
Only,  by  the  fame  law,  they  are  laid  under  ob- 
ligations not  to  neglect  divine  fervice  perform- 
ed in  the  Epifcopal  Church  near  the  College  ; 
and  in  cafe  of  abfence,  without  fufficient  rea- 
fon,  they  are  fubjecled  to  the  fame  fine  the  o- 
ther  youths  are,  if  they  groundlefly  abfenc 
themfelves  from  the  place  where  God  is  wor- 
fhipped  in  our  way.     1  mail  only  add  here,  all 
the  churches  of  every  other  denomination   re- 
ceive conftantly  a  full  fupply  for  the  miniftry" 
from  this  and  the  other  Seminaries  ;    and  fo 
might  the  church  of  England,  if  they  pleafed. 
There   is  no  obftacle  in  the  way,  unlefs  from 
themfelves.     If  therefore  it  has  happened,  that 
*c  feveral  Churches  have  flood  vacant,  becaufe 
Hone  could  be  found  to  officiate  in  them",  and 
that  the  u  fame  want  hath  been  an  hinderance 
to  the  proper  work  of  the  Society,  and  muft 
needs  prove  an  effectual  bar  to  any  farther  con- 
fiderable  progrefs  in  it",  as  his  Lordfhip  fpeaks, 
pag.  20.  it  mufl:  be  afcribed,  not  to  the  "  want 
of  Seminaries"  here,  of  which  there  are  enough 
already  ;  but    to    fome    other    caufe.     The 
Church-in terefl  can  be  in  no  danger  fronx.this' 
quarter. 

Another  difadvantage,  attending  the  propa- 
gation of  the  Gofpel  in  thefe  foreign  parts,  his 
Lordfhip  takes  notice  of,  pag.  21.  in  the  fol- 
lowing. 


6C 


X    43     5 

tawing  words,  "  What  encouragement  have 
*c  the  inhabitants  of  thefe  regions  to  qualify 
"  themtelves  for  holy  orders,  while,  to  obtain 
"  them,  they  lie  under  the  neceflity  of  crofTing 
*c  an  immenfe  Ocean,  with  much  inconveni- 
"  ence,  danger  and  expence  *,  which  thofe 
**  who  come  hither  on  that  errand  can  but  ill 
"  bear.  And  if  they  have  the  fortune  to  arrive 
ic  fafe,  being  here  without  friends,  and  with- 
out acquaintance,  they  have  the  fad  bufinefs 
to  undergo,  of  prefenting  themfelves  un- 
"  known  to  perfons  unknown,  without  any  re- 
"  commendation  or  introduction,  except  cer- 

*c  tain  papers  in  their  pocket.     Are  there  not 
"  circumftances  in  this  cafe,  funicient  to  deter 

€i  every  ordinary  courage,  and   to  dampt  the 

"  mod  adventurous  fpirit"; 

It  is  acknowledged,  it  would  be  a  great  dis- 
couragement to  the  fons  of  the  Church  from 
qualifying  themfelves  for  holy  orders,  and  X 
may  fay  to  others  alfo  educated  in  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Country  from  taking  them,  if,  in 
order  to  obtain  them,  they  mud  crofs  a  wide 
ocean  at  their  own  expence.  But  this,  I 
prefume,  is  rarely,  if  ever  the  cafe.  They  are, 
as  we  fuppofe  upon  good  information,  freed 
from  this  difcouragement  by  being  well  pro^ 
vided  for,  if  not  by  the  Society  in  part  at  lead, 
t?y  thofe  who  expect  the  benefit  of  their  labors. 
As  for  my  felf,  was  I  a  candidate  for  holy  or- 


(    44    ) 
ders,  I  fhould  efleem  it  a  happy  circumftance 
in  the  cafe,  to  have  fo  fair  an  opportunity  to 
vifit  the  land  of  our    fore-father's   nativity. 
And    I    believe   there   are   few    but   are   en- 
couraged by  this  very  thing  that  is  reprefent- 
cd   as  a  matter  of  fo  great   difcouragement. 
Their  "  being  there  without  friends,  and  with- 
out acquaintance",  is  a  difficulty  made  by  ima- 
gination only.     As  they  go  from  hence  upon 
the   nobly  profeiTed   defign    of   taking   holy 
orders,   that   they  may  be   validly  commiiTi- 
oned  to  propagate  the  Gofpel,  it  is  impoflible 
they  fhould  long  want  cc  friends  or  acquaint- 
ance", if  it  were  only  among  the  members  of  the 
Society,  they  are  fo  numerous,  and,  at  the  fame 
time,  fo  earneftly  engaged  in  promoting  this 
pious  defign.     It  is  true,  the  '•'  bufinefs  of  pre-? 
fenting  themfelves  unknown  to  thofe  unknown 
friends  would  be  fad3',  if  they  had  no  "  recom- 
mendation except  certain  papers  in  their  pock- 
et".     It  is  fit  they  fhould  have  thefe  papers  in 
readinefs  to  be  feen.     Their  moral  qualificati- 
ons can  be  known,  at  fuch  a  diftance,  only  in 
this  way.     But  it  is  as  proper  they  fhould  have 
knowledge  in  their  heads,  as  papers   in  their 
pockets.     And  it  is  hoped,  the  Society  fend  nq 
Million aries  but  fuch  as  are  able  to  recommend 
themfelves  in  the  former,  as  well  as  the  latter 
of  thefe  ways. 

His  Lordfhip  now  comes  to  the  lafl  and 
greateft  ip-convenience^  "  the  want  of  Bifhops 


f    45    ) 

lp  our  Colonies".  "  This",  fays  he,  pag>  22. 
€t  Befides  other  difad vantages  attending  if, 
f  appears,  in  particular,  to  be  the  fundamental 
"  caufeofthewantofnativeMinifters.  Theone 
"  removed  ;  the  other,  it  feems,  would  ceafe  of 
"  cotirfe.  For  can  it  be  imagined,  could  or- 
ei  ders  be  had  on  the  fame  terms  there  as  elfe- 
*'  where,  that  a  number  of  the  natives  fuffici- 
*'ent  for  the  fervice  of  the  Church,  would 
"  not  offer  themfelves  in  thofe,  as  they  do,  in 
!*  all  other  parts  of  Chriftendom". 

A 

The  want  of  "  native  miniflers",  if  this  is 
really  the  cafe,  is  not,  I  believe,  owing  to  any 
of  the  caufes  his  Lordfhip  has  mentioned,  not 
excepting  that  of  there  being  "  no  Bifhops  in 
the  Colonies".  If  I  may  ipeak  here  with  the 
fame  freedom  that  I  think,  I  would  fay,  there 
is,  in  one  refpeclr.an  obvious  difference  between 
our  people,  and  thofe  who  profefs  themfelves 
Church-men.  The  former  generally  fend  their 
fons  to  one  or  other  of  our  Colleges  with  a  view 
to  their  being  educated  for  the  miniftry  ;  this 
is  rarely  done  by  the  latter.  Should  any  afl; 
the  reafon  of  this  j— it  mud  be  plainly  faid,  our 
Churches  are  numerous  for  a  new  Country, 
many  of  them  large,  and  well  capable  of  pro- 
viding for  their  minifters  j  and,  by  a  fwift  in- 
creafe  of  inhabitants  and  new-fettlements,  they 
are  daily  growing  both  in  number  and  ability 
{b  fupport  their  Clergy.  There  is  herefrom 
i£ .-  ?  the 


(  4e  ; 

tne  profpecl  of  a  tolerable  provifion  for  our 
ions,  if  educated  to  ferve  in  the  miniftry. 
Whereas,  there  are  very  fewEpifcopal  churches 
that  "  ftand  upon  their  own  legs" ,— and  by  far 
the  greater  part  of  the  other  are  fmall  in  num- 
ber, weak  in  ability,  and  infufficient  to  main- 
tain their  own  miniftry,  unlefs  afiifted  by  the 
Society  at  home.  It  is  this  that  difcourages 
the  Church-people  from  bringing  up  their  fons 
for  Clergymen.  They  chufe  rather  to  provide 
for  them  fome  other  way.  And  as  to  profelytes 
from  us,  the  temptation  ordinarily  is  fo  fmail, 
that  few  are  overcome  by  it  until  they  have 
found  there  was  little  or  no  profpecl;  of  their; 
being  employed  to  greater  advantage.  No  one 
need  now  be  at  a  lofs  to  aftign  the  true  caufe 
of  the  •«  want  of  native  mtnifters". 

But  if  Bifhops  mould  be  fent  to  theColonies, 
the  people  would  generally  turnChurch-men  ;-- 
the  Ecclefiaftical  ftate  of  things  would  foon  be 
inverted  j  — Epifcoparians  would  quickly  ex- 
ceed the  other  denominations  of  Christians,  as 
much  as  they  now  exceed  them. 

This,  without  all  douht,  is  the  grand  point 
aimed  at  -,  and  there  may  be  fome,  both  at 
home  and  here,  who  really  think  all  this  would 
fpeedily  come  into  event.  But  thole  who  are 
foefl  acquainted  with  the  genius,  temper  ancj 
principles  of  the  Colonifts,  at  lealt  in  thofe  parts 
\      re  they,  are  racft  numerous,  have  not  thq 

lea(\ 


r  m 

leaft  motion  of  fear  excited  in  them  from  the 
profpect  of  any  fudv  effect  of  the  milfidn  of 
Bifhops.  They  are  rather  concerned,  leaft  ic 
fhould  be  the  occafion  of  hurtful  confequences 
both  to  them  and  us.  Such  confequences 
would  certainly  be  the  effect,  if  thefe  Bifhops 
ihould  make  ufe  of  their  Superiority,  as 
moft  probably  they  would,  fooner  or  later,  to 
influence  our  great  men  here,  and  much  grea- 
ter ones  at  home,  to  project,  and  endeavour  to 
carry  into  execution,  meafures  to  force  the 
growth  of  the  Church.  It  may  be  relied  on, 
our  people  would  not  be  eafy,  if  retrained  in 
the  exercife  of  that  "  liberty  wherewith  Chrift 
has  made  them  free"  ;  yea,  they  would  ha- 
zard every  thing  dear  to  them,  their  eftates, 
their  very  lives,  rather  than  fuffer  their  necks 
to  be  put  under  that  yoke  of  bondage,  which 
was  fo  fadly  galling  to  their  fathers,  and  occa- 
fioned  their  retreat  into  this  diftant  land,  that 

they  might  enjoy  the  freedom  of  men  and 
chriftians. 

His  Lordfhip  fpeaks,  pag.  ibid,  of  the  want 
of  Bifhops,  as  the  "  more  heavily  lamentable", 
becaufe  "  all  fects  of  Proteftant  chriftians  ac 
home,  and  all  fave  one  (meaning  the  Church 
of  England)  throughout  the  Colonies,  have 
the  full  enjoyment  of  their  religion". 

A  ftranger  to  the  Colonies  would  be  apt  to 
friink,  from  this  caufe  of  lamentation,  that  the 

Epifcopal 


(    48     ) 

Eplfcopal  Churches  here,  inftead  of  enjoying  th£ 
liberty  that  is  common  to  the  other  denominations 
of  chriftians,  were  in  a  ftate  of  religious  opprefli- 
on  :  Whereas  the  real  truth  is,  not  the  leaft  re- 
ftraint  is  laid  upon  their  chriftiari  liberty.  They 
worfhip  God  when,  whefe,  and  how  they  pleafe, 
without  hindrance  or  moleftation  :  Yea*  they 
are  diftinguifhed  from  all  other  denominations  in 
this  refpecl,  that  they  are  the  only  objects  of  the 
pious  charitable  help  of  the  Hcheft  Society  in  all 
England  incorporated  upon  a  religious  defign. 
And  they  are  befides,  within  the  Maffachufetts 
Province,  [how  it  is  in  the  other  Colonies  I  know 
not]  favoured  by  a  (landing  law  that  excufes 
them  from  paying  towards  the  fupport  of  any 
minifters  but  their  own. 

But  they  have  "  no  Bifhops".  Very  true  j 
and  they  have  no  juft  reafon  for  complaint  up- 
on this  head.     For,  let  it  be  cohfidered, 

Throughout  an  extent  of  territory  more  than 
560  miles  in  length,  comprehending  feven  Pro-  - 
vinces,  the  four  New-England  ones,  and  thofq 
of  New-York,  the  Jerfies,   and  Penfylvania  ;  I 
fay,  throughout  thefe  largely  extended  Provin- 
ces, fo  well  inhabited  that  they  contain  more  than 
&  million  of  fouls,there  are  not,  by  the  bed  infor- 
mation I  can  get,  more  than  eight  or  nineEpifcopal 
churches  that  fupport  themfelves.      All  the  reft, 
to  the  amount  of  about  fixty,  more  or  lefs,  chitfl^ 
tade  up  of  converts  from  the  other  denomina- 
tion 


(    49     ) 

tions  of  Chriftians,  are  fo  far  upheld  in  their  ex* 
jftence  by  the  Society  at  home,  at  the  expence 
of  not  lefs  than  fome  thoufands  frerling  per  an- 
num* that,  mould  this  be  withdrawn,  they  would 
foon   fink  away  for  want  of  needed   affiftance. 
Inftead  now  of  being  contented  with  the  receipt 
of  fo  much  pious  charity*   they  think  it  hard* 
and  complain  of   it  as  a  moft  lamentable  thing* 
that  as  many  thoufands  (terling  more    are  not 
annually  laid  out  for  the  maintenance  of  Bifhops 
among    them.     Is     this    reafonable  ?     Would 
Church-men  themfelves  think  it  fo  in   regard  of 
other  denominations  of  chriftians   befides    them- 
felves ?  Should  any  of  thefe  denominations,  in 
like  circumftances,  make  the  like  complaints,  in- 
fifting  that  they  were  not  fuffered  "  fully  to  en- 
joy their  religion",  none,  it  may  be,  would  treaC 
their  complaints  with  more  contempt,  than  thofe 
who  are  themfelves  fo  loud  in  making  them* 
And  yet,  I  know  not,  in  regard  of  real  merit* 
but  other  denominations  would  have  as  good  a 
right   to  complain,  as  thofe  who  profefs  them- 
felves  members  of  the  Church  of  England.     For 
they    are   the  defendants    from  anceftors,  who 
fubdued  &  cultivated  this  rude  wildernefs,  amid(t 
a  thoufand  difficulties  &  hazards,  fo  as  to  make  it 
the  pleafant  fruitful  land  we  now  behold  it  >  here- 
by adding  to   the  extent,  ftrength   and  glory  of 
the  Britifh  Crown  :  Nor  has  that  facred  Majcfty 
who  wears  it  more  loyal  fubjects,    even  in  Eng- 
land itfelf :  And  as  they  are  far  more  numerous 

G  than 


(  *j  ) 

than  the  F.pifcopamns,  they  are  in  proportiori 
more  able,  and  I  am  fure  they  would  be  as  willing, 
to  exert  tjhemfelves,  if  called  to  it,  at  the  peril  of 
their  lives,  in  defence  of  his  Perfon  and  Domi- 
nions. 

His  Lordfhip  farther  mentions  it  as  an  aggra- 
vating circumftance  attending  the  want  of  Rifh- 
ops,  that  "  even  the  Rcmifh  fuperftition  within  a 
Province  lately  added  to  the  Britifh  Dominions* 
is  compleatly  allowed  in  all  points  j  it  hath  Bifh- 
ops  and  Seminaries*'. 

It  is  prefumed,  if  Bifhops  are  allowed  in  that 
Province,they  are  provided  for  by  eftablimments 
within  itfelf,when  the  inhabitants  were  fubjects  of 
the  King  of  France  -,  not  at  the  expence  of  the 
Britifh  Crown  or  Nation,  as  it  muft  be  if  Bifhops 
are  fent  to  fuper-intend  theEpifcopal  churches  in 
the  Colonies  ;  which  makes  a  wide  difference  be- 
twixt the  two  cafes.  But  be  this  as  it  may,  the 
faift  itfelf  may  be  efteemed  certain,  as  it  is  affirm- 
ed by  his  Lordfhip,  whofe  fkuation  leaves  no 
room  to  fufpec"t  a  miftake  in  a  matter  of  this  na- 
ture. And  an  aftonifhing  one  it  is  to  us  in  thefe 
parts  of  the  world  !  TkeRomish  superstiti- 
on  COMPLEATLY     ALLOWED    IN    ALL   POINTS  ! 

What  more  furprifing  !  What  more  oppofite  to 
one  of  the  great  ends  propofed  by  King  William 
Hid,  in  incorporating  the  Society  for  the  propa- 
gation of  the  Gofpel  in  thefe  foreign  parts! 
"What  could  more  powerfully  obftrucl;  one  mairi 

branch 


r  51  ) 

branch  of  their  proper  bufmefs,  the  prevention,; 
or  extirpation,  of  Popery  in  the  Colonies  !  We 
may  reafonably  fuppofe,  his  Lordfhip,  and  the 
whole  incorporated  body  of  which  he  is  a  member, 
are  ftrongly  affected  with  grief  at  this  compleat 
allowance  ;  and  that  they  will  unite  in  all  pro- 
per remonftrances  upon  fo  important  an  occafion. 
How  far  articles  of  capitulation  may  have  made 
way  for  fuch  an  allowance  >  I  pretend  not  to  judge  ; 
but  if,  in  virtue  of  any  of  them,  it  was  made  ne- 
celTary,  a  confent  to  them  was  highly"  impolitic, 
and  may  be  of  dangerous  confequence  to  the 
Britifh  intereftj  more  efpecially  in  that  part  of 
America. 

His  Lordfhip  concludes  what  he  had  to  fay 
upon  the  head  of  Bifnops  with  thtfe  words, 
pag  25.  "  This  point  obtained,  [the  million 
of  Bifhops  to  the  Colonies]  the  AsTierican 
Church  will  foon  go  out  of  its  infant  date  ; 
be  able  to  (land  upon  its  own  legs  •,  and  with- 
out foreign  help  fupport  and  fpread  itfelf. 
Then  the  business  of  this  Society  will 
have  been  brought  to  the  happy  issue 
intended." 

The  conduct  of  the  Society  has,  for  many 
years,  gWen  us  realbn  to  fufpecc  their  main 
vi tw  was  to  e?iscofise  the  Colonies  ;  but 
we  were  never  before,  that  1  know  of,  told  fo 
in  direcr  terms.  His  Lordfhip,  in  the  prelence 
of  theSociety  themfelves,  has  net  only  fpecifkd, 

G    2  their 


(     5»     > 

-their  business,  but  in  plain  words  declared, 
that  it  will  be  brought  to  its  intended  hap- 
py issue,  if  they  may  "  but  have  Bifheps,  and 
the  Church  go  out  of  Irs  infant  (late  fo  as  to 
fupport  and  fpread  itfelf".  We  are  firmly  per- 
fuaded,  if  their  proper  bufinefs  is  here  pointed 
out,  and  they  profecute  it  with  the  greateft  vi- 
gor, the  "  happy  iflue  they  intend"  will  never 
take  place,  according  to  their  defire,  at  leaft  in 
the  New- England.  Colonies.  Thefe,  for  fcores 
of  years,  have  been  thefpecial  object  of  their  fol- 
licitous  care  ;  and  may  have  coft  them,  from  firft 
to  lad,  more  a  great  deal  than  thirty  thoufand 
pounds  fterling.  And  what  has  been  the  efFect  ? 
There  has  gradually  been  the  rife  of  about  thirty 
three  EpUcopa]  churches,  by  far  the  greater  part 
of  which  are  fo  fmall  in  number,  and  to  this  day 
fo  infuffigierit  for  their  own  fupport,  that,  fhould 
{he  Society's  pious  charity  towards  them  be  dis- 
continued, there  would  be  no  probable  hope  of 
t!vu*  long  continuance  in  being  :  Whereas,  the 
Congregational  and  Prefbyterian  churches  only, 
-without  any  charitable  help  from  abroad,  and  ir* 
oppofnion  to  ail  efforts  to  prevent  it,  have  in- 
creafed  to  the  number  of  550  •,  and  they  go  on 
increafing,  as  much  in  proportion  beyond'  the  E- 
pifcopa)  churches  as  they  exceed  them  in  number 
and  ability.  Why  then  mould  theSociety  expect 
v  the  happy  iflue  they  intend"  ?  There  is  no  rea- 
fonable  room  for  hope  in  the  cafe  :  Efpecially,  if 
it  be  remembered,  that  we,  in  thefe  parts,   noe 


(     53     ) 

cnly  know  the  errand  of  our  fore-fathers  into 
this  Country,  but  have  been  well  indoctrinated 
in  the  principles  of  christian  Liberty. 
"  Old  grudges  and  jealoufies"  are  no  "obstacles" 
in  the  way  of  our  going  over  to  the  Church  ;  and 
as  to  "  obfolete  piques  &  groundlefs  fears",  they 
are  as  fully  "extinguifhed"  here  as  in  "England". 
We  prefer  our  own  mode  of  worfhip  and  difci- 
pline  to  that  of  the  Englifh  church  ;  and  we  do 
it  upon  principle,  as  really  believing  that  it  comes 
nearer  to  the  purity  and  fimplicity  of  Gofpel- 
direction.  And  as  thefe  are  the  generally  pre- 
vailing fentiments  inNew-England,  and  their  con- 
duct has  all  along  been  generally  conformable 
hereto,  we  have  no  fearful  apprehenfions  of  a  de- 
parture herefrom  ;  but  are  rather  fully  perfuaded, 
they  will  (land  faft  to  their  principles,  and  clofely 
adhere  to  that  mode  of  worfhip  which  has  hither- 
to been  in  ufe  among  them,  whatever  attempts 
may  be  made  to  turn  them  afide. 

You  fee,  Sir,  I  have  endeavoured  to  comply 
with  your  defire.  I  hope  your  expectations  will 
not  be  difappointed.  Pofiibly,  your  view  may 
be  to  publim  thefe  remarks.  As  to  this,  you 
may  do  as  you  pleafe.  Mo  one  is  better  able  to 
judge  of  the  propriety  or  truth  of  the  facts  above 
related  ;  and  I  may  depend,  if  they  will  not  bear 
your  fcrutiny,  they  will  have  your  perufai  only. 

1  am,  with  great  Refpect, 
Bo/ion,  Dec.  Your  obliged,  obedient, 

'10.   1767.  and  humble  Servant, 

Charles  Chauncy. 


(    54    > 
P.   S. 

AS  you  faid  nothing  to  me  of  the  Soczety-fermon, 
preached  by  Dr.  Warburton,  Lord  Bifhop  of 
Gioucefter,  in  1766,  I  conclude  you  had  not  feen  it. 
While  I  was  fi.nifhing  the  foregoing  remarks,  his 
JLordfnip's  third  vol.  of  fermons  on  various  oc  cations, 
in  which  this  was  contained,  was  put  into  ray  bancs. 
It  will  not,  I  believe,  be  unacceptable,  if  I  traniciibe 
two  or  three  paiTiges  in  it  for  your  perufal. 

Pag.  65.  "  But  though  the  zeal  of  the  firftColontfts 
'*  (rekindled  by  this  violent  remove  to  the  otherHemi- 
fphere)    kept  religion  alive  and    active,    yet   their 
poverty  difablcd  them  from  fupplying   fuel   to  the 
<c  vital  flame  ;  I  mean,  provifion  for  a   preaching 
"  Ministry.     Infomuch,  that  without   the  kincly 
i:  affiftance  of  their  Mother- Country,  this  new  chri- 
<c  ftian  Common-wealth   had  been,   as   the  Roman 
"  hiftorian  expreiTes  it  of  the  imperial   City  in   it's 
"  cradle,  Res  unius  JEtatis.     A^ainft    this   dar.ger, 
*.*  a  timely  aid  was  to  be  provided.     And  the  Foun- 
"  ders  of  cur  Society",  Sec.     We  doubt  not  his  Lord- 
fh'p's  thorow  acquaintance  with   the  hiflory  of  other 
more  important  Countries,  even  from  their  firft  rife  v 
but  the  ftory  of   this  has   certainly   been  below    his 
notice.     Otherwife,  he  would  have  known,  that  fame 
of  the  "  firft  Colonics"  were   men  of  ample  fortunes 
fcr  that  day. — He  would   have  known  alfo,  if  it  wr.s 
their  unhappinefs  to  be  poor,  that,  notwitbffending 
their  poverty,  they  did  in   fact  "  fupply  fuel   to    the 
vital  flame",  that  is,  make  provifion  for  a  prechinc 
Ministry  ;  infomuch,  that,  "  without  any  kindly 
afliflance  of  their  Mother-Country'',  they  had  a  fufn- 
ciency  of  Minifrers  for  the  performance  of  the  public 
offices  of  religion,  wherever  they  extended  their  fet- 

tkmcmsa 


(     55     ) 

dements.  He  would  have  known  farther,  that  there 
had  been  nearly  the  revolution  of  an  age,  if  a  century 
may  be  fo  called,  and  an  increafe  of  Churches  to  fome 
hundred?,  with  Paftors  at  the  head  of  them,  before 
the  exiftence  of  that  incorporated  body  which  was  to 
fupply  a  preaching  Minifiryy  without  v/hich  religion 
could  not  be  kept  alive.  And  He  would  have  known 
moreover,  that,  fince  the  incorporation  of  this  Society, 
the  growth  of  Churches,  and  their  fupply  with  Mi- 
nifters,  at  leaf!  in  the  New-England  Colonies,  has 
been  much  more  than  ten  times  greater  without  any 
help  from  them,  than  where  they  have  afforded  it  at 
an  immenfe  expence, 

Pag.  67.  "  Here  then  we  might  well  leave  thefe 
{C  contentious  people  to  themfelves,  did  not  a  mifer- 
"  able  circumftance  flill  call  for  our  rejected  charity  : 
<c  I  mean,  the  fpreading  Gentilism  in  the  Colonies 
ic  themfelves.  Not  a  brutal  ignorance  of  God,  as 
among  the  Savage  natives  ;  but  a  blasphemous 
contempt  of  his  holy  diipenfations,  among  our 
Pbilofaphk  Colonifts".  With  what  truth,  orjuftice, 
this  reproach  is  caft  upon  the  Colonies  may  be  feen 
in  the  foregoing  remarks.  Only  it  may  be  faid  here, 
if  there  are  any  "  Philofophic  Colonifts"  who  "  blaf- 
pheouily  contemn  God's  holy  difpenfations",  they  are 
hot  confined  to  the  descendants  from  "  Fanatics"  ; 
but  may  as  well  be  looked  for  in  the  Church,  that  has 
been  the  fpecial  object  of  the  Society's  care  ;  they 
themfelves  being  judges. 

Jt  follows  in  the  next  words,  "  The  origine  of 
'*  which  folly  was,  however,  no  more  than  this. — 
"  The  rich  producl:  of  the  Plantations  foon  fupplicd 
*<•  the  Colonifts  with  all  the  conveniences  of  life. 
ki  And  men  are  no  fooncr  at  eafe,  than  they  are  ready 

«'  addreflsd 


c    56  ; 

4c  addrefled  to  pleafure.  So  that  the  fecond  venture 
ct  of  our  Co'onifts  was  for  the  luxuries  effocia1  life  ; 
"Among  which  the  commodity  called  free-think- 
ts  ikg  was  carefully  configned  to  them,  as  that  which 
*'  gave  a  reiifh  and  kafoning  to  all  the  reft.— Thus 
Ci  it  c^me  to  pafs,  that  the  very  people,  whofe 
*<  fathers  were  driven  for  confeience-foke  into  the 
4C  vunjle  and  howling  wilder  nefs^  is  now  as  ready  to 
*  laugh  at  that  Bible,  the  moft  precious  leiievfc 
"  of  their  ruined  fortunes,  as  at  their  ruffs  and  collar- 
"  bands".  Surely,  his  Lordfhip  would  not  have  faid 
this,  had  it  not  been  told  him  by  fbme,  proff  fling  an 
acquaintance  with  the  pofterity  of  thefe,  who  were 
driven  into  this  wildernefs.  But  be  they  who  they 
may,  "  the  truth  was  not  in  them". — They  couki 
not  more  bafely  or  falfely  have  fpoken  evil  of  them. 

I  fhall  on'y  add,  the  reproachful  light  in  which  the 
Colonies  are  placed,  more  efpecially  in  the  two  laft" 
Society- fermons,  may  poffibly  tend  to  move  the  com- 
panion of  ferious  good  people  at  home,  and  enlarge 
the  excrcife  of  their  pious  charity  towards  us  j  but 
the  growth  of  the  Church  here,  the  great  thing  \vi 
view,  will  rather  fuffer  than  gain  by  it.  Were  thefe, 
and  a  few  more  fermons  breathing  the  fame  Spirit,  to 
be  reprinted  and  difperfed  among  the  Colonifts,  it ; 
would,  I  am  perfuaded,  dilTerve  the  Church  much 
more,  than  the  miflion  of  as  many  Bifhops  as  could 
be  wifhed,  would  ferve  it. 

Your's  as  above, 


